Police investigating the murder of a Matalan shop manager have arrested a man.

Scotland Yard said a 26-year-old is in custody in connection with the death of Jamie Simpson, 33, who was stabbed in the neck in a suspected robbery on Saturday.

The suspect was arrested on Wednesday night on a Hackney street and is being held at an east London police station by officers from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

Detectives believe three men lay in wait in the shop in the Kingsland Shopping Centre and attacked Mr Simpson in the cash office as he counted the day's takings.

He was found at about 8.30pm by other staff and pronounced dead at hospital. A post-mortem examination showed he died from a stab wound to the neck.

The arrest came after officers released CCTV pictures of three men in hoodies in the shopping centre shortly before the incident.

Mr Simpson's mother, Lorna Simpson, 52, made an emotional plea for help to find the killers of her "wonderful son".

The teacher from Derby said she had encouraged him to "stick at" the job despite his misgivings about the area he worked in.

She said: "To know I told him to carry on working is devastating to me. I thought you can't afford to live in London without money.

"It's totally devastated my life. Saturday I was a normal person, today I don't know who I am. I am living hour by hour."

Police have asked witnesses or anyone with information to call the incident room on 0208 345 1585 or Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111. Matalan has offered a £40,000 reward for information leading to a prosecution.

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