Two held over murder

Detectives hunting the killer of Black Country lorry driver Reginald Southall today arrested a man and a woman in the early hours on suspicion of murder.

The two people were arrested early this morning at Stourport and are being held at Kidderminster and Redditch police stations for questioning.

Deputy senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Dean Jones said officers had carried out searches of footpaths and other locations within a ten-mile radius of Stourport, including areas of countryside at Rock and Bewdley.

He said that "a number of items of interest" had been recovered but would not confirm whether they were items including Mr Southall's missing mobile phone, shoe, or wallet, or possible murder weapons.

Today searches of the riverbanks were continuing.

Mr Southall had lived most of his life in Pensnett but last year moved to the Stourport Caravan Park with his wife, Muriel.

He had worked for Boswell Steels, at Cradley, for about ten years and the couple, who have one son and three grandchildren, had hoped to retire to Stourport.

Mr Southall was found dead in the River Severn on December 16 last year by fishermen.