Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Det Supt Paul Kessell said the 49-year-old is believed to be known to Gaia

Police investigating the disappearance of teenager Gaia Pope have arrested a 49-year-old man on suspicion of murder.

Paul Elsey, confirmed as the suspect to the BBC by his father, is from the Swanage area of Dorset.

Mr Elsey, the third person to be held in the inquiry, is believed to be known to 19-year-old Gaia, who went missing from the town on Tuesday, 7 November.

A search is continuing in an area where items of women's clothing were found earlier, Dorset Police said.

Mr Elsey lives at the same property as his mother Rosemary Dinch, 71, who along with her 19-year-old grandson, Nathan Elsey, were arrested on suspicion of murderingMs Pope on Monday.

The pair were released on Tuesday while inquiries continue.

Image copyright PA Image caption Gaia Pope was last seen in Swanage on 7 November

Det Supt Paul Kessell said the clothing was found on land near the Dorset coast path and "a number of vehicles" had also been seized.

The officer said it was not clear who the clothes belonged to but they were "similar" to those which Gaia was wearing.

Image copyright Andrew Matthews/PA Image caption Forensic officers are working in the area where items of clothing were found

He added Gaia's family had been informed of the developments and were being supported.

She was last seen nine days ago by family friend Ms Dinch in Swanage.

Since Gaia's disappearance, extensive searches have been carried out in and around the resort,