Wiltshire Police has confirmed the searches of homes in Stratton and Cirencester are not linked to murderer Christopher Halliwell or the investigation into missing Swindon woman Sally Ann John.

Officers began searching the detached home in Wingfield, near Kingsdown School, on Tuesday.

A forensic tent has been put up in the back garden. Police search officers and dog units from Devon and Cornwall Police were at the scene yesterday. 

Neighbours described seeing officers earlier carry plastic bags out of the house.

This Is Wiltshire:

The force confirmed that two people had been arrested and released on police bail. But they would not say why the people had been arrested.

Officers are expected to remain at the houses for several days.

Wiltshire Police would not comment except to confirm that the searches were not linked to the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Swindon woman Sally Ann John, who went missing in 1995.

Neither were the searches related to Christopher Halliwell, who is currently serving two life sentences for killing Becky Godden-Edwards and Sian O’Callaghan.

In 2011, Swindon police excavated Halliwell’s front garden in Nythe. Six years later, scenes of crime officers poured over the double-murderer’s former home in Broadgreen.