A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and sexual activity with a child after a teenage girl’s body was found.
Lucy McHugh was found dead in woodland near Southampton Sports Centre in Hampshire at 7.45am yesterday.
The teenager was last seen at home on Wednesday morning and was reported as missing before being found by a member of the public.
Police have now arrested a 24-year-old man from Southampton and he remains in custody.
Lucy McHugh was found dead in woodland near Southampton Sports Centre on Thursday
Detective Superintendent Paul Barton of Hampshire Police said: ‘This is a tragic incident and our thoughts go out to Lucy’s family and friends at this terrible time.
‘We know Lucy left her house in Mansel Road East at 9.30am on Wednesday 25 July and did not return home that evening as expected.
‘We’re really keen to know what she did after leaving her house and would ask that anyone who saw her, had contact with her or knows of her movements on Wednesday contacts the incident room.’
At the time of her disappearance, Lucy’s mother posted an appeal to help find the Southampton youngster on Facebook.
She wrote: ‘Anyone seen Lucy White she is missing and police are out looking. Any help appreciated.
‘She is wearing blue jeans, black/white jacket, grey or green top. Blue digital watch.’
Last night, she added her daughter had ‘been found’ as sympathies flooded in from friends and family.
Crime scene: A murder investigation was launched after her body was found and police have now arrested a man. Pictured: Southampton Sports Centre, Hampshire
She wrote: ‘Thank you everyone for sharing. I shall post a update soon but Lucy has been found and at the moment that’s all I can say.
‘Thank you everyone for your kind words. We’re all trying to come to terms with it all slowly and just feel numb.’
Large parts of the sports facility in Southampton, Hampshire were cordoned off yesterday after the body was discovered early in the morning.
Friends of Lucy took to social media today to pay tribute to the teenager.
One told her mother: ‘So sorry for your loss, thoughts are with you and your family!! She was such a sweet girl, she will be missed at school a lot.’
Another wrote: ‘Lucy was the kindest person I’ve met from school and was always there for me no matter what happened.’
While a third friend added: ‘Such a loss, she had a smile that lit up the room and I feel privileged to have known her and be able to call her a close friend all my love to u guys, the brightest star in the sky, rip angel.’
Police cars are pictured parked at Southampton Sports Centre in Southampton today after Lucy McHugh’s body was found there on Thursday morning
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