POLICE have said they cannot charge a man arrested last year on suspicion of murdering Melanie Hall because they have been told by the Crown Prosecution Service there is insufficient evidence.

Detectives investigating the murder of Miss Hall, who vanished after leaving Cadillacs nightclub in Bath in 1996, arrested a 45-year-old man from Bath on November 19 last year.

In 2009 the remains of the 25-year-old, from Bradford Leigh, were found by the side of the M5 by a workman who was clearing vegetation on the slip road at junction 14, near Thornbury, south Gloucestershire.

Police appealed for information about the owner of the white VW Golf GTi hardtop, reg C752 CYE, during the summer of 1996.

But the CPS, after reviewing the case, has said no further action will be taken afgainst him. He was released on bail after his arrest and has returned to the police station in the city regularly throughought the year. He was due to return again on Monday.

CPS Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Nicola Haywood said: “Having carefully reviewed the file presented to the CPS by Avon and Somerset police in line with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, I have decided that there is insufficient evidence to charge anyone in relation to the disappearance on Melanie Hall.”

Det Chief Inspector Gareth Bevan, of Avon and Somerset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Unit, said: “We respect the decision of the CPS and will continue to work with them as this investigation continues.”