DNA found after a church burglary has been matched to a sample discovered in the bedroom of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.
The schoolgirl's remains were found in woodland in Hampshire, six months after she vanished a mile from her home in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, on March 21, last year.
DNA found on a cup in the church taken by police investigating a burglary on October 31 matched a sample taken from an article of clothing found in Milly's room after her disappearance.
Police have not disclosed what the piece of clothing was, except that the 13-year-old had "owned it for sometime," a Surrey police spokeswoman said.
A team of Surrey police visited St Paul's Church in Ryhope in Sunderland at the weekend and took samples from 46 male members of the congregation and others involved in the church.
"What we are trying to stress at this stage is there is nothing to link the DNA sample to the murder and abduction of Milly Dowler," the Surrey police spokeswoman said.
Police could not speculate about the link, the spokeswoman said. They wanted to interview the owner of the DNA so they could get an explanation.
The DNA samples have been sent away for testing. Police had no idea when the results would be available, the spokeswoman said.
January 30, 2003 16:00
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