A man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering missing Blackpool teenager Charlene Downes.

The arrest was made this morning in Preston by the team of detectives investigating Charlene's murder.

The 14-year-old disappeared on November 1, in 2003, but what happened to her has never been discovered.

Charlene's body was never found.

Police said a 51-year-old man who lived in Blackpool at the time of her disappearance is currently in custody.

(Image: PA)

(Image: Simon Lennon)

Charlene was last seen in an area of the town centre with several takeaway and fast-food units.

Police believe that she had been the victim of child sexual abuse at the hands of one or more men for a protracted period, and that she was murdered within hours of going missing.

The investigation into her disappearance is one of the largest and longest running in the history of Lancashire Police.

In 2006, two men were arrested and charged with murdering the teenager and disposing of her body.

(Image: PA)

During the trial at Preston Crown Court, a jury was told police carried out secret recordings during surveillance of one of the men’s car and flat on Hornby Road.

But the jury failed to reach a verdict in 2007 and during a re-trial the men were acquitted of all charges and awarded compensation for false imprisonment.

Officers from Lancashire Police have taken more than 4,800 witness statements and followed 10,500 lines of inquiry but the case remains unsolved.

(Image: Lancashire Police)

Lancashire Police said: "The man, aged 51, who lived in Blackpool at the time of Charlene's disappearance, is currently in custody.

"Charlene was just 14 years old when she was last seen in Blackpool on Saturday November 1st 2003.

"A £100,000 reward remains on offer for information leading to the conviction of her killer or killers.

"The investigation is one of the largest and longest running in the history of Lancashire Constabulary."

On November 1 2003 at around 3.35pm Charlene was caught on CCTV crossing the road in Blackpool.

At 7.15pm Charlene's mum Karen Downes gave her a kiss after bumping into her daughter in the town centre.

Charlene said she was going to the arcade and would not be late. She met her friend and they walked towards the Carousel bar on North Pier.

At 9.03pm Charlene is allegedly spotted on CCTV outside a Blackpool bar with a woman wearing a black coat.

On November 2nd 2003 Charlene's family reported her as missing when she failed to come home.

(Image: Unknown)

But it was not until 2006 that police advised Charlene's family that the focus of the investigation had changed from missing person to murder.

In 2007, a kebab shop boss was acquitted of the 14-year-old's murder and his co-defendant was acquitted of helping dispose of her body.

But a planned retrial in 2008 was dropped due to lack of evidence and the forensic blunders. The two men were paid almost £250,000 each in compensation.

Covert recordings in which the defendants appeared to joke Charlene's body had "gone into kebabs" were later found to be flawed due to their handling.

Two officers later faced disciplinary proceedings over the case, but themselves sued the force claiming they were scapegoated for their boss' failings.

In 2011, officers investigating Charlene's appearance discover at least 60 schoolgirls were groomed for sex at takeaways in Blackpool.

Like the infamous Rochdale child abuse scandal, it is feared they were groomed in exchange for food, alcohol and cigarettes. They believe Charlene was involved.

In 2014 a Crimewatch appeal was issued and cops revealed a £100,000 reward for information.





