Man arrested over woman's 1996 murder

A Wiltshire man has been arrested over the suspected murder of a woman who disappeared 14 years ago after a night out in Bath.

Avon and Somerset Police said a 39-year-old is being held on suspicion of the murder of Melanie Hall, who disappeared in 1996.

The man was arrested at 4pm after he went voluntarily to a police station, a spokesman said.

Miss Hall's remains were discovered at the side of the M5 motorway last October.

On July 1 a 38-year-old Bath man was arrested on suspicion of her murder and disappearance, and was later released on bail.

Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Bevan, of the murder inquiry team, described the arrest as an important step but stressed that the investigation is still going on.

He said: "Since Melanie's body was found last October, the investigation team has continued to work tirelessly, following up new information we have received and revisiting the previous investigations that followed Melanie's disappearance from Walcot Street in June 1996.

"An additional 250 statements have been taken and 1,200 new tasks and investigative actions have been completed. Today's arrest was one such action."

He said Miss Hall's parents, Pat and Steve Hall, were always kept informed and were aware that police had made an arrest.