Police in Northern Ireland have arrested a man in connection with the death of an immigrant who was found in a container at Tilbury Docks in Essex.

The man (34), from Limavady in Co Derry, was arrested just after midday on the A1 at Banbridge on suspicion of manslaughter and facilitating illegal entry.

He is currently in the custody of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) ahead of being returned to England for questioning by Essex Police. PSNI officers are also searching his home to help the investigation.

Meet Singh Kapoor (40) from Afghanistan, was found dead inside the container on Saturday. He reportedly died in his children's arms. A post-mortem examination has not been able to establish how he died.

Mr Kapoor was one of 35 Afghan Sikhs - including 13 children - from Kabul who were found sealed in an airtight container on a UK-bound ferry.

The alarm was raised after "banging and screaming" could be heard from the container when it arrived at Tilbury on a ship from Zeebrugge in Belgium on Saturday morning.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore, of Essex Police, said "This is a fast-moving investigation which has already involved a number of police forces and law enforcement agencies from across the United Kingdom and Europe."

"I am very grateful to officers from the PSNI for their assistance this morning. We will continue to work closely with all of our policing colleagues as we pursue our investigation to bring those responsible for this crime to justice," he added.

The survivors are now applying for asylum in the UK and are under the care of the Home Office there.

"We are continuing to provide expert support, along with the National Crime Agency, to the Essex Police investigation into the discovery of 35 people in a container at the port of Tilbury on Saturday," a UK Home Office spokesman said.

"This tragic incident is a reminder of the devastating human consequences of illegal migration and we will do all we can to help bring those responsible to justice."