Neighbour is held over Joanna Yeates murder

Specialist teams arrived at the home of Dutch architect Vincent Tabak shortly after the arrest was made yesterday morning.

Mr Tabak and his girlfriend Tanja Morson lived next door to the flat Miss Yeates, 25, shared with her partner Greg Reardon, 27.

Miss Yeates was strangled after disappearing on 17 December, when she walked home following drinks with colleagues. Her body was found in a snow-covered lane on Christmas morning.

Police have not named the suspect who was detained in the early hours of yesterday.

The previous arrest of landlord Chris Jefferies, 65, on 30 December, who remains on police bail, created a media furore. Police last night insisted Mr Jefferies remains a suspect.

Calls to Mr Tabak's employers in Bath were referred to Avon and Somerset Police.

Workers erected scaffolding and green tarpaulin at the rear of the substantial converted Victorian property at Canynge Road, in Clifton, Bristol, yesterday. The screen covers the entrance to the flat where Mr Tabak lived, and the rear of Miss Yeates's rented home.

Police sealed off both ends of Canynge Road as officers in white forensic outfits arrived at the property.

Miss Yeates's father welcomed the arrest, which came almost five weeks after she disappeared.

Speaking at the family home in Hampshire, David Yeates, 63, said he was "pleased" the police investigation was "moving forward".

He said: "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."

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Detective Chief Inspector Phil Jones, who is leading the inquiry, 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."

The early morning arrest is believed to have taken place at a converted Victorian terraced house in Aberdeen Road, Clifton.

Two police officers, a man and a woman, were on guard outside the property yesterday afternoon.

Mr Tabak worked as a people flow analyst for engineering firm Buro Happold.He speaks three languages and is an expert in the use of space in office buildings.

He could not be reached by telephone yesterday.

Eindhoven University of Technology confirmed Mr Tabak completed a PhD in "User Simulation of Space Utilisation" three or four years ago. Miss Morson, an analyst at Dyson, in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, could also not be reached by telephone.

Miss Yeates's best friend Emma Brooks, 25, who studied and lived with Jo at Writtle University, in Chelmsford, Essex, said the arrest was positive news.

She said: "It is good news - but it is just a case of waiting to see if they have enough to charge him.

"At least the police have something now. It shows the investigation is still going strong - but to be honest I never thought it wasn't.

"These things take time. DNA evidence and things like that take a while in any investigation. We just have to sit tight now."

Peter Stanley, who owns a house on Canynge Road next door to the building where Miss Yeates lived expressed his relief at the news.

The 56-year-old was visited by police investigating the murder after it emerged he helped start the car of Greg Reardon after he suffered a flat battery on the night she went missing.

He said: "This has come as a bit of a surprise - and a relief. I had a friend call me this morning and tell me the news. If police have arrested the right person it will be a great relief for everybody."

Miss Yeates disappeared after going for Christmas drinks with colleagues at her architectural firm.

Her boyfriend Greg Reardon, 27, reported her missing after he returned to Bristol, on 19 December, following a weekend away visiting family in Sheffield. A huge police operation swung into action after her body was found.

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

It is understood they are investigating whether Miss Yeates's body was taken from her home in a large bag or suitcase.

The line of inquiry reportedly emerged after no drag marks were found on her body or clothing. It has also been claimed that police found three separate DNA traces on different parts of the victim's body.

The latest breakthrough came a day after police revealed that more than 300 people contacted detectives after a reconstruction of Miss Yeates's final movements was filmed. Her last journey was walked 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 in Park Street with colleagues. At about 8pm, she left to make the 30-minute walk home to her flat.

She was captured on CCTV at a Waitrose supermarket and a branch of Tesco Express, where she bought a pizza.

Detectives said Miss Yeates made it home to her flat because her shoes, coat, mobile phone, purse and keys were found there.The pizza is still missing along with a ski sock. Tests revealed she did not eat the pizza.