Detectives hunting missing schoolgirl Amanda Dowler, who went missing eight weeks ago, yesterday arrested a 36-year-old man.

The suspect was detained in Chertsey, about three miles from the 13-year-old's home in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey Police said.

Amanda, also known as Milly, disappeared on her way home from school eight weeks ago yesterday - on Thursday, March 21.

Despite a massive police hunt and high-profile media campaign, no trace of the youngster has been found.

News of the development came in a brief police statement released more than five hours after the arrest.

It said: "A 36-year-old man has today been arrested by Surrey Police in Chertsey at around 11am in connection with the inquiry into the disappearance of missing schoolgirl Amanda Dowler.

"The man has been taken to Surrey Police Station for questioning."

The police added that no body had been found.

It is thought to be the first arrest directly connected to Milly's disappearance. A woman was recently arrested for allegedly harassing her parents.

Speaking before yesterday's arrest, Superintendent Alan Sharp, the officer leading the hunt, said: "Two months on, Surrey Police remain committed to the investigation into the disappearance of Milly Dowler.

"We are currently re-interviewing all her friends, making personal visits and collating all the information received so far to build up a fuller picture of Milly.

"Surrey Police is following all lines of inquiries in this critical incident, but we still need people to offer information, however trivial or irrelevant they think it is."

He added: "We remain grateful to everyone who has shared information with the police so far, and for all those people who have displayed posters in businesses, cars and homes in the local area and further afield."

Anyone with any information is asked to call Crime-stoppers on 0800 555111.