Helen Bailey disappearance: Man arrested on suspicion of murder

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of murder following the disappearance of children's author Helen Bailey.

Bailey, who wrote the Electra Brown novels for young adults, was last seen in April, walking her dog near her home in Royston, Hertfordshire, reports The Guardian.

A 55-year-old man from Royston has been arrested and is being questioned on suspicion of murder, disposing of a body in a manner likely to obstruct the coroner and theft of money belonging to Bailey, Hertfordshire Constabulary said.

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"Significant inquiries and searches have already been made as part of the investigation to trace Helen and further searches at her home address in Royston and an address in Broadstairs in Kent are taking place today," said a police spokesman.

It is believed Bailey left a note for her partner, Ian Stewart, saying she wanted some time on her own and was going to stay at her holiday home in Broadstairs, says the BBC. Extensive searches were carried out around the area in April.

When it was established there was no evidence she had tried to contact friends or family, used her mobile phone or taken any money out of bank accounts, the police stepped up their investigation into her last known whereabouts.

In May, Chief Inspector Julie Wheatley described it as a "highly unusual case" because Bailey "seems to have simply disappeared".

As well as the teenage book series, Bailey wrote a blog called Planet Grief after her husband of 22 years drowned on holiday in Barbados in 2011.