THE prime suspect in the parcel bomb murder of a housewife in Kent 17 years ago is behind bars in Spain. Detectives from Kent are now hoping to finally question Keith Cottingham, 69, a former pest control officer, about the killing of Barbara Harrold at her family home in The Street at Ightham, near Wrotham.

Mr Cottingham moved to Spain three days before the nail bomb was delivered to the 55-year-old grandmother in May 1984. It caused horrific injuries from which Mrs Harrold died one week later.

Spanish police arrested Mr Cottingham last weekend in the village of Jesus Pobre, near Benidorm, on the Costa Blanca, where he has lived since 1984.

A spokeswoman for Kent police said: "I can confirm that he has been arrested in Spain, following an application by ourselves. Extradition proceedings will not be held for about one month. This is the first time that he has been arrested in relation to this offence."

Mr Cottingham was held in Denia, on Spain's south-eastern coast before being transferred to Madrid for extradition proceedings at the National Criminal Court.

The proceedings to return him to the UK are expected to begin in about four weeks time, although he may volunteer to come home sooner.

A warrant issued for his arrest has never been acted upon because the 1985 extradition agreement between Spain and the UK did not work retrospectively, but the rules have since changed.

The parcel bomb sent to Mrs Harrold was posted in Ashford Road, Bearsted, near Maidstone. It was wrapped in red ribbon and contained a metal tube, carpet tacks and nails. As Mrs Harrold untied the ribbon, the parcel exploded, throwing her into cupboards on the other side of the room. Although she regained consciousness twice, she died six days later.

Mr Cottingham, a grandfather, started work as an environmental health officer for Canterbury council in 1974. He took early retirement in 1984 on health grounds.

He has always maintained his innocence. Speaking from his Spanish home in 1992 he told a Kent Messenger reporter: "I had never even met the woman or her husband."