Man, 32, arrested in connection with Joanna Yeates murder

A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of the murder of Joanna Yeates early today.

• Joanna Yeates went missing on 17 December

The 25-year-old's body was found on Longwood Lane, Failand, North Somerset, on Christmas Day morning, sparking a huge police operation.

Today Detective Chief Inspector Phil Jones, Avon and Somerset Police's senior investigating officer, said: "I would like to thank the public for their continued support for the investigation and the information they have provided to us.

"I would also like to pay tribute to Jo's family and to Greg who continue to be unfailing in their support to me and my team at what is an incredibly difficult and painful time for them."

Miss Yeates's father David, 63, speaking at the family home in Ampfield, Hants, said: "We are pleased that the investigation is moving forward.

"We know as much as you do. We were told at 6am this morning that someone was arrested on suspicion of Jo's murder and their age."

A police investigation was launched when Miss Yeates's boyfriend Greg Reardon, 27, reported her missing after he returned to Bristol on December 19 following a weekend away visiting family in Sheffield.

Miss Yeates was not seen again until her body was found on December 25.

Police have said there was no evidence she had been sexually assaulted but they have not ruled out a sexual motive.

Her landlord Chris Jefferies, 65, was held for three days for questioning on suspicion of murder before being released on bail.

Today's breakthrough came a day after police revealed that more than 300 people had contacted detectives investigating the murder in the 24 hours after a reconstruction of Miss Yeates's final movements was filmed.

The landscape architect's last journey, which started after she left work on December 17, was retrodden by an actress on Tuesday night and filmed for the BBC's Crimewatch.

The reconstruction focused on what she did after she left her firm, BDP, in Bristol city centre.

She went first to the Bristol Ram pub on Park Street, where she had Christmas drinks with work colleagues.

She spent around two hours socialising with her friends before leaving at around 8pm to make the 30-minute walk home to the ground floor flat in Canynge Road, Clifton, that she shared with her boyfriend.

Seen on CCTV in a Waitrose supermarket at the Clifton Triangle, she then went to a Tesco Express in Clifton village where she bought a pizza.

Detectives said Miss Yeates had made it home to her flat because her shoes, coat, mobile phone, purse and keys were found there - although the pizza, the wrapping and its box are still missing along with Miss Yeates's ski sock.

On Tuesday night police revealed that tests showed she had not eaten the pizza before she died.

Today, The Sun reported that detectives were working on the theory that Miss Yeates's body was removed from her flat in a large suitcase or holdall.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Operation Braid incident room on 0845 456 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.