VIDEO Detectives investigating the murder of five Ipswich prostitutes have arrested 37-year-old supermarket worker Tom Stephens on suspicion of murder.Police have searched his house at Trimley St Martin, his mother's house at Eye and seized his car.

DETECTIVES investigating the murder of five Ipswich prostitutes have arrested a man, they confirmed today.

The 37-year-old man was arrested at his home in Trimley, near Felixstowe, at 7.20am this morning.

Detective Chief Superintendent Stewart Gull said the man had been arrested on suspicion of murdering all five of the girls - Tania Nicol, 19, Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29.

The man is currently in custody at a police station in Suffolk for questioning.

Police said they would not be naming the police station where he is being held.

The Press Association said that sources close to the investigation had named the man as Tom Stephens, of Trimley St Martin.

Stephens is a former special constable, and has also worked as a taxi driver. He was suspended on full pay from his job at Tesco in Martlesham at the weekend.

Forensic officers have been at his home in Trimley St Martin for most of the day, and took a car away from the property earlier today.

It is the second time police have searched the house. Several weeks ago neighbours saw police using metal detectors in the garden and searching the house.

A separate search was made today at Stephens' mother's home in Eye.

In a newspaper interview published on Sunday, Stephens said he spoken to police several times and believed it was likely they would arrest him.

He said he had no alibis for the times around the murders, although he strongly denied any involvement in them.