Police quiz Jane suspect

Police are today questioning a man they believe murdered teacher Jane Longhurst.

At an emotionally charged press conference in Brighton today, attended by Jane's relatives, police revealed they swooped on the man's home in Hove at 9pm yesterday.

They said that the man had been questioned by detectives once before during the seven-week murder hunt.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Steve Dennis said it was "a significant arrest". He said the man was held without a struggle but Mr Dennis was unable to give any more details about the suspect.

The burning body of Miss Longhurst, 31, was found on Saturday in woodland at Wiggonholt Common, near Pulborough, West Sussex.

Miss Longhurst, who taught at a school for children with learning difficulties in Brighton, vanished from the home she shared with her long-term partner Malcolm Sentance, 34, on 14 March.

The teacher's mother, Liz Longhurst, read out a statement on behalf of Mr Sentance, who is staying with friends. He said: "I am missing Jane every hour of every day and night. It is heartbreaking when your life turns a corner and new experiences occur and the one person you want to share them with is not there.

"I am really going to miss the great company and nights in the pub with friends. I will miss walking, driving about, the pillow fights and swimming in the sea."

Mr Sentance's statement added that he was relieved that his partner's body had been found and that her life can be celebrated at a funeral in the near future.

Although he hoped the murderer would be found for the sake of possible future victims, he said: "I do not feel any malice towards the killer. My thoughts are with Jane and her family.

"We are trying to stay positive. I am heartbroken at the tragic loss of a brilliant friend."

Detectives believe Miss Longhurst was strangled shortly after her disappearance and that her body was kept "somewhere cool" for up to five weeks.

They have suggested that her murderer "panicked" over the Easter weekend and decided to dump and set alight the body in an area of countryside that was clearly visible from footpaths and a road.