Nearly 26 years after a young man was knifed to death in the street, someone has been arrested on suspicion of his murder.

Jason Comerford was stabbed in the throat in an apparently motiveless attack following a night out in the city centre on February 25, 1994.

The textile printer and amateur artist, 21, was attacked as he relieved himself on a street in Ancoats.

The case has stumped detectives for more than two decades.

But following a painstaking re-investigation by officers from Greater Manchester Police's Cold Case Review Unit, a suspect was today (Tuesday, February 18) been taken into custody on suspicion of Jason's murder - a 75-year-old man.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "We have arrested a 75-year-old man in connection with Jason Comerford's murder.

"He has been taken to a police station in Manchester."

As previously reported by the Manchester Evening News, Jason was seen by a witness stumbling onto Great Ancoats Street clutching his neck in the early hours, having been attacked on George Leigh Street.

(Image: M.E.N.)

He collapsed in the road and died.

A 'hunter' knife was recovered near the scene. Cops are 99 per cent sure it is the weapon used to kill Jason.

Tragically, both of Jason's parents died before knowing who took their son's life in such a brutal fashion.

On the 20th anniversary of his murder, police issued a fresh appeal.

Martin Bottomley, head of the Cold Case Unit, said at the time: “Jason’s murder was the result of a senseless and apparently motiveless attack on a young man who was simply enjoying a night out in the city centre.

“Jason was a quiet, reserved young man who had no known enemies and largely kept himself to himself."

(Image: M.E.N.)

He was the fourth of five children and lived on his own in a flat on Rodney Street, Ancoats, a short walk from where he was killed.

Police said he was not a big drinker, but would regularly frequent bars and clubs around Manchester.

He was said not to have mixed much with other drinkers and was described as being difficult to engage in a conversation.

Jason would spend the night dancing away on his own during the height of the 'Madchester' music scene.

The night he died, he had been to the Discotheque Royale and The Cotton Club.

After the clubs closed, Jason walked towards Ancoats.

(Image: Mirrorpix)

He met a 24-year-old woman who was walking towards Oldham Road to use a phone box to call for a lift home.

The woman said she saw a man carrying a holdall, who became involved in a row with Jason while he relieved himself.

The man then knifed Jason before fleeing past the old Daily Express building, the witness claimed.

A suspect was arrested hours after Jason’s death – and another was held in the months that followed – but both were eliminated from the investigation.

Four years after Jason’s murder, the inquiry was re-opened when a mystery caller dialled the Crimestoppers hotline and gave the name of the person they claimed was the killer.

But the tip-off contained no other information and the name given was so common that police struggled to do anything with it.