Three people who were arrested in connection with the disappearance of Gaia Pope have been released from police investigation without any further action.

Nathan Elsey, 19, Paul Elsey, 49 and Rosemary Dinch, 71, who are all from Swanage and known to Gaia, were arrested on suspicion of murder last week.

They were questioned over the disappearance of the 19-year-old who went missing on Tuesday, November 7. 

Paul's father, Greg Elsey, has reportedly threatened to sue Dorset Police over the arrests.

Speaking to the Telegraph, he said: “We will take action for wrongful arrest. This has ruined their lives. Mud sticks doesn't it."

On Saturday at around 3pm, specialist search teams discovered the body of a woman near the coastal path and the field where items of her clothing had been located on Thursday near Swanage.

Although the body has yet to be formally identified, officers say they are confident that it is Gaia and her family is being supported by specially-trained officers.

A post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday and 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 20 November, 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.”