POLICE investigating the death of a motorcyclist killed in a hit-and-run crash a month ago have arrested a man.

The 28-year-old, from the Thirsk area, was questioned by officers at Northallerton Police Station in connection with the death of 67-year-old Ralph Snowdon, of Riccall, near Selby.

He has since been released on police bail pending further inquiries, police said.

Mr Snowdon died on May 28 following a collision on the B1257 Helmsley to Stokesley road, near Chop Gate. The Thirsk man was arrested by North Yorkshire Police officers yesterday afternoon.

Mr Snowdon's daughter, Mandy, of Dringhouses, York, said she was very pleased with the way the police investigation was going and thanked officers for their help.

She revealed she had still not been able to return to work following her father's tragic death and said the crash had left her heartbroken.

"This is fantastic news, but we are not building our hopes up. The police have been fantastic through this whole thing and have been working very hard," she said.

"I can't go back to work and it is difficult to get up in the morning, so I am keeping my fingers crossed about this development. I hope and pray this is what we have been looking for."

Police teams have spent the last four weeks appealing for information about the crash. They visited spots popular with bikers, including the recent British Superbike Championships at Croft.

In an emotional press conference earlier this month, where police renewed their appeal for information, Mrs Snowdon, 39, said her father's death had left her feeling "lost".

She told of the pain she and her 12-year-old daughter, Danielle Snowdon-Russell, were going through.

"My dad was very much loved by everybody," she said.

"I feel lost. I feel lonely and I've been robbed of my dad."

Updated: 10:44 Tuesday, June 28, 2005