A former teacher at a Beijing international school, wanted by police in the United Kingdom in connection with the distribution of indecent images of children and the rape of a child, has been arrested in the capital, according to police in Beijing on Friday.

The news has also been confirmed by police in Surrey, where the man was from.

Neil Robinson, 47, joined Beijing World Youth Academy in 2008, but left the school in May last year for "personal reasons".

He is believed to have been in the country since then.

Beijing police gave no further details of the arrest, other than to confirm the man has been detained.

Surrey police are now liaising with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Chinese authorities regarding Robinson's return to the UK, James Baker, lead media relations officer of Surrey Police in the UK, told China Daily.

He added that Robinson had turned himself in to authorities in China.

The offenses Robinson is wanted in connection with took place between 2000 and 2002. He has links to Susse x and Surrey, Baker said.

A staff member at Beijing World Youth Academy, who declined to be named, confirmed to China Daily on Friday that Robinson had worked at the school, but the school's HR department could not be reached.

The arrest warrant for Robinson was revealed during an episode of BBC television's Crimewatch program, which highlights police appeals for information involving wanted people in the United Kingdom.

The program had reported that Robinson may be abroad.

The staff member said international teachers at the Beijing World Youth Academy normally renew their contracts in May, but that Robinson had handed in his resignation early last year, because he had claimed his father was "seriously ill and he had to return to the UK".