One of the UK's most wanted child sex offenders, on the run from Worcestershire, is fighting attempts to extradite him back to Britain, the Irish High Court heard today.

John Murrell, aged 39, who was arrested in Ireland on Friday, has been on the run since failing to register with police on his release from prison in September 2000.

Lawyers for Murrell, formerly of Friday's Acre in Droitwich, told the Irish High Court in Dublin today that Murrell is opposing the extradition.

Justice Michael Peart granted a two-week adjournment until Wednesday, October 17.

Murrell, who appeared in court casually dressed in a grey T-shirt and blue jeans, was remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison in West Dublin.

Seeking the adjournment, barrister Kieran Kelly BL said he had not had enough time to prepare his case to oppose the application since Murrell's arrest in Co Kildare on Friday.

Prosecutors were applying to the High Court to extradite Murrell to Britain under the European Arrest Warrant Act 2003.

West Mercia Constabulary police were tipped off about Murrell's whereabouts in Ireland after he featured on the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre's (Ceop) Most Wanted website.

His case has featured in numerous public appeals, including the BBC Crimewatch programme.

He disappeared with his family after being released from a jail sentence he received for indecently assaulting a child.

Murrell's last known address was in Droitwich, but he led an itinerant lifestyle.

During the search, police received reports of possible sightings in Belfast, Aberystwyth, Blackpool and Canada.

Police said Murrell, who was on the run with his wife Catherine and five children, might have used false identities and changed his appearance to evade police.

The Most Wanted website, dedicated to locating child sex offenders, was launched last November.