POLICE searching for a former miner who mysteriously disappeared three years ago have made an arrest.

Edward Donnelly, 56, went missing from the home he shared with his sister in Fynway, Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, on March 25, 2002.

Despite extensive inquiries since then, police have been unable to trace him.

But last night it was revealed that, acting on a tip, detectives had spent three days searching a house in Elm Court, in Sacriston.

Samples have been taken from the property and sent to the Home Office forensic laboratory at Wetherby for tests.

On the day he vanished, Mr Donnelly, 53, known as Eddie, was last seen by an acquaintance walking along the A167 near the Red Lion, at Plawsworth.

His disappearance was said to be totally out of character and a large-scale search operation lasting several weeks was launched.

Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue spent days scouring areas around Sacriston.

Canoeists searched the River Wear from Lumley to Finchale Abbey, which he was known to visit over the years.

A police helicopter also carried out several sweeps of the East Coast railway line, between Durham and Chester-le-Street.

In December 2003, police divers scoured a woodside pond in an attempt to find his body. Three specialist divers from Northumbria Police's search unit spent several hours in the overgrown pond, not far from Sacriston.

Residents in Elm Court, Sacriston, last night expressed shock at the police search of the house in their quiet neighbourhood.

Neighbour Ann Murphy said: "We were really surprised. The man who lived in the house always had the time of day for people. He lived alone with his dog. I don't know what to think."

Another neighbour, Nora Murphy, said: "The rumours flew around the estate when the police arrived. He was such a nice man."

Resident Michael Brennan added: "The chap living in the house the police searched is a bit of a loner. To me, he has always been alright, though. I happened to know Mr Donnelly as well. Everyone used to call him the ghost because there was no colour to him."

Detective Chief Inspector Jeff Watson said: "Having received information, we were obliged to act on it.

"At this stage, we are keeping an open mind with regard to Mr Donnelly's disappearance.

"It is coming up to the anniversary of him being reported missing from home, and, while we hope he is somewhere alive and well, his family has not heard from him in that time."

Mr Donnelly is 5ft 8in, with a pale complexion and light mousey brown hair, last seen cut in a short-back-and-sides style.

He was last seen wearing a three-quarter-length dark green, hooded wax jacket, black jeans and black Umbro training shoes.

A Sacriston man in his late 40s has been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and bailed pending further inquiries.

Anyone with information regarding Mr Donnelly's whereabouts is asked to contact the police on 0845 365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.