The computer was taken from an office at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh just over a week ago.

It was recovered from an address in the city at the weekend.

Police said a 21-year-old man was expected to appear in court in connection with the theft.

Research programme

Paediatric neurologist Robert Minns, 58, had been studying non-accidental injuries in babies aged 12 months and younger for the past four years.

Police said it appeared that all the original information contained on the laptop was still there.

A camcorder also taken from the hospital has not been recovered.

Mr Minns, who was concerned that his £100,000 research programme could be delayed by several months, was said to be thrilled by the return of the laptop.

His offices at the University of Edinburgh Department of Child, Life and Health, adjacent to the hospital were broken into at 1300 BST on Sunday 21 July.

The Australian-born neurologist said the laptop computer was worth £2,500 but the data it contained was of most value.