DETECTIVES investigating the mysterious disappearance of a man from St Helens have arrested three people on suspicion of his kidnap and murder.

Paul Morson, from Spinners Drive, Sutton vanished after last being seen four months ago on June 8 in Huyton.

Today, for the first time publicly, police confirmed they suspect the 31-year-old, known to friends as ‘Birdie’, has been murdered and added that new information had come to light to give the investigation fresh impetus.

Detectives launched a missing person inquiry when Mr Morson’s disappearance was reported to police by his family.

A Renault Kangoo van he had borrowed from a friend was found abandoned on the A50 in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire on June 21.

Following “a large and complex police investigation”, detectives executed four search warrants at addresses in Merseyside on Tuesday after new information came to light.

Two 33-year-old men were arrested on suspicion of kidnap and murder following raids in Kipling Avenue, Huyton and Dalemeadow Road, Knotty Ash. They remain in police custody.

Two more warrants were executed in Windy Arbor Road in Whiston and Wood Road in Halewood at the same time.

A third man, aged 59 and from the Whiston area, was arrested on Tuesday night in London.

Mr Morson originally from Huyton, was living in St Helens with his partner until he disappeared. He had served a jail sentence for providing the car that the killers of Anthony Walker – Paul Taylor and Michael Barton – used to escape to Holland in 2005.

Back in June, police said they are not pursuing any link with their investigations.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Brunskill, from the force's Major Incident Team which is investigating what has happened to Mr Morson, said: "Following a long and complex investigation into Paul's disappearance I can now confirm that we suspect he may have been murdered.

"Information has recently come to light which would indicate that Paul has been taken against his will and harmed in some way.

"His disappearance in June was so out of character and unusual that we treated it as a high priority right from the start and despite extensive enquiries, he has not yet been traced.

"There is no evidence of Paul contacting friends, family or acquaintances in the past four months or being seen either in Merseyside or elsewhere. Having examined the circumstances in his life at the time he went missing, we now believe he has come to serious harm.

"Following four search warrants executed across Merseyside on Tuesday morning, and further enquiries in London, three men have been arrested on suspicion of Paul's kidnap and murder and questioned.

"Paul's partner and family have been informed of these developments in what remains a live and ongoing police investigation."

Anyone with information that could help the police investigation is asked to call the Major Incident Team on 0151 777 8660 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.