THREE people arrested in connection with the disappearance of Gaia Pope have this morning been released from police investigation without any further action.

Specialist search teams discovered the body of a woman near Swanage on Saturday close to where items of Gaia's clothing had been found on Thursday.

Although the body has yet to be formally identified, police are confident that it is 19-year-old Gaia.

A post-mortem examination did not identify any injuries to suggest any other person was involved in her death. The cause of death is undetermined pending toxicology results.

Detective Superintendent Paul Kessell, of Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “Following the results of the post-mortem examination and other ongoing investigative enquiries, we have concluded that no one else was involved in Gaia’s death.

“As such we have today, Monday, released from our investigation two men aged 19 and 49 and a 71-year-old woman, all from Swanage, who had been arrested and were assisting with our enquiries.

"I appreciate our enquiries would have caused these individuals stress and anxiety, however we have an obligation in any missing person investigation to explore every possible line of enquiry.

"The public would expect Dorset Police to fully investigate the sudden disappearance of a teenage girl. Our aim was not only to find Gaia but to find out what happened to her.

“Gaia’s family has been informed of this latest development and our thoughts remain with all her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”