THE former owner of a top York restaurant has been arrested.

David Rose, 47, former proprietor and head chef of the Blue Bicycle, in Fossgate, was being quizzed by York police at their headquarters in Fulford Road yesterday in connection with allegations of fraud.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed that Mr Rose had been arrested and brought to York from the south of England yesterday.

He said: "He has been brought up here from the south. It has to do with fraud matters.

"He is still being interviewed and it is an ongoing inquiry.

"He has not been charged.

"It is likely to be a long inquiry because it has to do with fraud."

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokeswoman confirmed that they had arrested Mr Rose on behalf of North Yorkshire Police.

She said: "We arrested a 47-year-old man in Torquay on Sunday and he has since been collected by another force."

She said Mr Rose was not being investigated by Devon and Cornwall Police for any offences.

Mr Rose previously owned The Blue Bicycle and its sister caf and gift shop, The Blue Minelle, also in Fossgate, with Sarah Brownbridge. But the pair were declared insolvent at the High Court of Justice in April 2003 after creditors the Inland Revenue and HM Customs & Excise filed for bankruptcy.

Staff and customers of The Blue Bicycle were shocked when the restaurant suddenly closed in April 2003 after bailiffs changed the locks when the couple failed to pay the rent.

Property owner Tony Stephenson then bought the Blue Bicycle restaurant from the administrators and the high-profile eatery reopened.

Mr Rose went travelling round France, Spain, and the Caribbean before joining another top York restaurant, Sous le Mont, in The Mount, York, as its chef-director in June 2004. He then became a partner in that business.

Mr Rose was discharged from bankruptcy before he took up the job at Sous Le Mont, after the law was changed to allow most people to be discharged after 12 months.

Sous Le Mont was later sold and the restaurant reopened with new owners and under a new name - One 19 The Mount.

Updated: 10:25 Tuesday, May 16, 2006