Three men were today arrested on suspicion of murdering a 28-year-old man who went missing last August.

The body of Jason Martin-Smith has never been found but police have received a tip-off that he was shot dead in Hastings shortly after his disappearance.

Police say they are linking the disappearance with the gunning down of father-of-three Jimmy Millen in Hastings in October.

Mr Martin-Smith, formerly of Camberley, Surrey, went missing four months ago and had previously lived at a number of different addresses in the Hastings area.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "Police have received information that Mr Martin-Smith was shot dead in Hastings around August 20/21, 2001.

"There have been no confirmed sightings of him since then and police believe he may indeed have been the victim of a violent death."

A man in his 50s and two in their 20s, all from the Hastings area, are being questioned by police.

Mr Millen was shot as he worked on his car in Carpenter Drive, Hastings, on October 24.

Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Moore, who is leading the investigation into the murder of Mr Millen, said: "We believe that this is a significant line of investigation regarding Jimmy's murder.

"We believe that the disappearance of Jason Martin-Smith may well have connections with the original investigation and we are linking these matters.

"For evidential reasons we cannot disclose the reasons for this at this stage."

Police want to speak to anyone who has knowledge of Mr Martin-Smith or the circumstances of his disappearance.

He is white, 5ft 8in tall, has short, straight brown hair and is of proportionate build.