Police say man was arrested and later released as search for missing woman continues

Police have questioned a 32-year-old man in connection with the disappearance of a midwife. Samantha Eastwood, who works at the Royal Stoke university hospital, was reported missing by colleagues when she did not turn up for work as expected at 7pm on Friday.

The search for the 28-year-old continues. A Staffordshire police spokesman said: “A 32-year-old man from Stoke-on-Trent was arrested in connection with the disappearance. He has since been released under investigation and inquiries are ongoing.”

It has not been disclosed when and where the man was arrested.

North Yorkshire police have joined the search for Eastwood, who has connections to Whitby. Staffordshire police said Eastwood was last seen at Stoke station at midday on Saturday, and officers have been examining CCTV footage from the station.

Liz Rix, chief nurse at Royal Stoke university hospital, said: “We are appealing for anyone who has seen or heard from Samantha to get in touch with Staffordshire police. Samantha is a much loved and valued member of the UHNM [University Hospitals of North Midlands] family and her maternity centre colleagues are very concerned. Samantha has worked as a midwife at Royal Stoke for six years, and not turning up to work on Friday evening was very much out of character.”

Officers have appealed for anyone with information on Samantha’s whereabouts to come forward. She is described as about 5ft 3ins, of medium build, with shoulder-length ginger hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion with freckles.