Husband arrested after body found

Diane Chenery-Wickens has not been seen since 24 January

The husband of a missing make-up artist has been re-arrested following the discovery of a body in woodland near their East Sussex home.

David Chenery-Wickens, 51, is being questioned over the disappearance of his wife Diane, 48, in January.

He had previously been arrested on suspicion of her murder and had his police bail extended to 30 May pending further inquiries.

A woman walking her dog found the human remains on Thursday morning.

The body, which was concealed yards from off Worth Lane, Little Horsted, near Uckfield, has not been identified and investigations are continuing.

Mrs Chenery-Wickens is said to have travelled to London on 24 January, the day her husband reported her missing.

We need to keep an open mind until formal identification and investigations at the scene have been conducted Sussex Police spokesman

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "A 51-year-old man from Duddleswell was arrested in connection with the disappearance of Diane Chenery-Wickens."

Detectives are investigating the possibility that the body could be Mrs Chenery-Wickens and officers had told the family about the discovery.

The spokesman said: "While the potential link with the Diane Chenery-Wickens case is one obvious line of inquiry, we need to keep an open mind until formal identification and investigations at the scene have been conducted."

Specialist search teams have examined sites based on "specific information" in the 6,500-acre Ashdown Forest on the Kent/East Sussex border.

Searches have also taken place at the couple's country home in Duddleswell and surrounding woodland.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Johns, of Sussex Police's major crime branch, appealed to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in and around the lane where the body was found to come forward.

CCTV footage examined

The disappearance of Mrs Chenery-Wickens has been described as totally out of character by friends and relatives.

Her passport and driving licence were found at her Duddleswell home, along with other personal belongings.

She is said to have travelled by train with her husband from East Grinstead to London to attend a meeting at the BBC.

But Sussex Police said CCTV footage had failed to show any sign of her and said she did not attend the meeting.

Bafta-nominated Mrs Chenery-Wickens has worked for more than 20 years on some of television's best-known shows, including the League of Gentleman, Casualty, Pride and Prejudice and Dead Ringers.

She also won an Emmy award in 2000 for her work on Arabian Nights.