Man held in hunt for missing schoolgirl is freed on bail

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The hunt for the missing schoolgirl Amanda Dowler appeared to suffer a further setback yesterday when a man arrested in connection with her disappearance was released without charge.

The 36-year-old suspect was released on bail after being questioned by Surrey Police for more than 28 hours. He was arrested at his flat in Chertsey, Surrey, about three miles from where Amanda, known as Milly, was last seen eight weeks ago.

Hopes were raised that police had made a breakthrough when they arrested the suspect at 11am on Thursday, although well-placed sources warned that the arrest was not considered very significant. Police spent yesterday searching the man's rented ground-floor flat in Abbey Road. The house is being renovated by builders.

Fifteen officers conducted a fingertip search of the property. They concentrated on clearing building materials which were preventing them from gaining entry to a garage.

A Rover car was towed away by police from outside the flat. The white car was strewn with maps and empty plastic bags and had Irish number plates, leading to speculation that the suspect was Irish.

A police spokeswoman said yesterday: "A 36-year-old man has been released on police bail to a date, which has not yet been fixed."

Milly disappeared on 21 March after catching a train to Walton-on-Thames with two friends after leaving her school in Weybridge. Her parents, Robert, 50, an IT consultant, and Sally, 43, a teacher, and her 16-year-old sister, Gemma, have made several pleas for her to come home.

Robert Chandler, 37, who works with Mr Dowler, said the new development was just the latest disappointment for the family. "It's a real rollercoaster," he said. "They're optimistic because there's nothing else to do. They're living in hope."