A MAN arrested yesterday in connection with the murder of Melanie Hall in 1996 remains in custody today, police have said.

Officers investigating the disappearane of 25-year-old Melanie from a nightclub in Bath, and subsequent discovery of her body in undergrowth on the sliproad of the M5 at Junction 14 near Falfield 20 years later, arrested the man on suspicion of her murder.

The 45-year-old man remains in custody for questioning.

Melanie was last seen at the former Cadillacs nightclub in Walcot Street, Bath, in the early hours of Sunday 9 June 1996. Her remains were found in vegetation off the northbound slipway at junction 14 of the M5 (Thornbury) in 2009.

Earlier this month Avon and Somerset Constabulary renewed their appeal for information on the 20th anniversary of her disappearance. New leads had been identified after an item containing DNA was found at the scene where her body was found and advances in technology meant police could start building a DNA profile of her killer. 

Det Supt Andy Bevan said: “Melanie’s parents have been informed of the arrest and will continue to be supported and updated on the progress of our inquiry by specialist family liaison officers.”