Two well-known North West developers have been arrested following a fatal accident during the international Gumball 3000 rally.

Nicholas Morley and Matthew McConville of Morley Estates were arrested on the border of Albania and Macedonia following the death of a 67 year old Macedonian Vladimir Cepulyoski.

Mr Cepulyoski died in hospital from a heart attack yesterday after the collision on Wednesday. He had not been involved in the race.

Ivo Kotevski, a Macedonian police spokesman speaking to the Press Association, said the pair would testify before an investigative magistrate before a decision would be made on whether to hold them in custody.

'Two British citizens left the scene of the accident. Shortly afterwards, border authorities found them in another (vehicle) at the Qafasan border crossing with Albania,' he said.

The Foreign Office said the pair were taking part in the rally when they hit another car in Macedonia. It is believed the two men waited at the scene until ambulance crews arrived to help the driver of the second car, before rejoining the race towards the Albanian border.

It is thought the men reported the accident to police when they arrived at the border and were asked to give statements. As they returned to the border to continue their trip they were told the other person involved had died and were taken back to a nearby police station, where Mr Morley was held.

Organisers of the Gumball 3000 closed the race down following the death of Vladimir Cepulyoski, 67, from Macedonia. The high-powered sports car race has been in existence for nearly a decade and is popular with the rich and famous.