Amanda Dowler detectives find DNA match at church in Sunderland

Detectives hunting the murderer of the schoolgirl Amanda Dowler said yesterday they had matched DNA taken from her clothing with a sample found in a church more than 300 miles away.

The trace of saliva taken from a coffee cup after a break-in at a church in Sunderland was found to be identical to DNA on an item of clothing found in the teenager's bedroom after her death.

Surrey Police said they were not directly linking the find to the abduction and murder of Amanda – also known as Milly – early last year but admitted they were at a loss to explain the discovery. Detectives from the Amanda Dowler inquiry took DNA samples last weekend from 46 male members of the congregation at St Paul's Church in Ryhope, south Sunderland, where the matching sample was found. Tests of two men arrested for the burglary at the church in October proved negative.

A spokeswoman for Surrey Police said: "It is a very strange development. Whoever is the owner of the DNA sample may hold vital information about Milly's movements. There is nothing to suggest that he is linked to her abduction or murder. But it is a very odd coincidence and we need to find an explanation for it."

The DNA match was found shortly before Christmas on the central database of samples held on the police national computer. Forensic science officers routinely take DNA swabs from crime scenes for cross- examination with samples taken from 1.5 million criminals.

Clothing belonging to Amanda, who was 13 when she disappeared on her way home to Walton-on-Thames in Surrey last March, was tested as part of the extensive investigation. Police refused to disclose what the matching piece of clothing was but confirmed it was not part of her attire when she disappeared.

Her remains were discovered in woodland near Fleet, Hampshire, 30 miles away, six months after her abduction.

The Rev David Meakin, vicar of St Paul's, said his congregation had been astonished to learn of the link. He was asked by police to provide the list of 46 men associated with the church.

Surrey Police said they might do further tests in Ryhope if the first batch failed to find a match with the coffee cup DNA.