Police arrest 47-year-old man over missing Milly

A man was arrested yesterday in connection with the disappearance of 13-year-old Amanda Dowler.

The 47-year-old man, from Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, was arrested at 2pm and was being questioned at a police station in Surrey last night.

Amanda, who was known as Milly, was last seen walking home from Walton-on-Thames railway station on 21 March on her way back from school in Weybridge. She had called her father, Robert, on a friend's mobile phone from a café at the station. A massive search has been mounted, and her case was featured on BBC television's Crimewatch UK.

However, it is understood that yesterday's arrest is not considered by the police to be significant and is part of routine inquiries. The man is not expected to be charged in relation to the case.

A 36-year-old man was arrested on 16 May in Chertsey, about three miles from Milly's home, in connection with the disappearance. He was released the following the day without charge. That arrest was followed by another on 13 June when a 52-year-old man from Surrey was detained and questioned by police. He, too, was released without charge.

A Surrey Police spokeswoman said: "A 47-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the inquiry."