Australia's most wanted man, who managed to evade a police manhunt for seven years, has been captured and charged with murder and other offences.

Malcolm Naden, a 38-year-old former abattoir worker, was finally detained in a midnight raid after 20 officers with police dogs surrounded a house in New South Wales.

He had been on the run since 2005 after allegedly killing a woman.

A bushcraft expert, he repeatedly eluded police searches.

In December last year, police nearly caught him after surrounding what was believed to be his makeshift camp site near the village of Nowendoc. But he managed to escape.

A reward of A$100,000 ($103,000; £66,000) was offered at the time - the first time such a big bounty was used in Australia since the days of outlaw Ned Kelly in the 19th century.

Mr Naden has been charged with attempted murder for the shooting of a police officer during that December manhunt.

He was also charged with the murder of 24-year-old Kristy Scholes in 2005, and two counts of aggravated indecent assault on a 15-year-old girl in 2004.

Mr Naden, who was armed when police confronted him on Wednesday night, was bitten by a dog. He is reportedly ''in good health'' after being treated at a hospital, and remains in police custody, Australian media reported.