A SOUTHAMPTON man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the victim being exhumed after being killed with a shotgun.

The 56-year-old man from Southampton is currently being held in the city on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to prevent lawful burial.

He is one of eight people arrested in connection with the death of Andrew Bedford was shot dead at a garage more than 25-years-ago in Cambridgeshire.

Mr Bedford was shot dead on September 28 1990, and cold case detectives exhumed his body and reopened their investigation last year.

Earlier this year Mr Bedford's sister Linda Adley and daughter Lesley Bedford urged anyone with information on Mr Bedford to come forward when he was still believed to have been missing.

Linda, 45, said: "Our mum passed away five years ago not knowing if her eldest son Andrew was alive or dead.

"He was fun, bubbly and he liked to help if he could. He was always there for me.”

Cambridgeshire Police said officers had arrested eight people early on Wednesday.

The others men who have been arrested at around 6.30am, age between 43 and 70 and come from Northampton, Kent, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, and are being held for offences including assisting an offender, preventing lawful burial and perverting the course of justice.

The spokesman added: ''All have been taken to March Police Station for questioning, except the man from Southampton, who will be questioned in custody in Southampton.''

A 64-year-old man from Ramsey who was earlier arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder has been released without charge.

Daily Echo: PICTURED: Andrew Bedford

Mr Bedford, from Huntingdon, was last seen in a light blue Ford Cortina at 6.20pm on September 28 1990 in Factory Bank, Ramsey, eating some takeaway food, possibly fish and chips.

He was reported missing the next day.

Detectives believe that he was killed later that same evening with a shotgun at a garage called Mongrel Cars which no longer exists.

Among those arrested were a 56-year-old man from Southampton on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to prevent lawful burial.

  • A 70-year-old man from Glatton, near Peterborough, on suspicion of assisting an offender and conspiracy to prevent lawful burial.
  • A 52-year-old man from the Raunds area in Northamptonshire on suspicion of assisting an offender and conspiracy to prevent lawful burial.
  • A 47-year-old man from Sheerness, Kent, on suspicion of assisting an offender and conspiracy to prevent lawful burial.
  • A 50-year-old man from the Ramsey area on suspicion of assisting an offender and conspiracy to prevent lawful burial.
  • A 43-year-old woman from the Peterborough area on suspicion of assisting an offender and conspiracy to prevent lawful burial.
  • A 45-year-old man from Letchworth, Hertfordshire, on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
  • A 62-year-old man from Ramsey on suspicion of assisting an offender and conspiracy to prevent lawful burial.

All have been taken to March Police Station in Cambridgeshire for questioning, except the man from Southampton, who will be questioned in custody in the city.

In September, officers re-appealed for information on the 25th anniversary of Andrew’s murder.

The officers spoke to local people, handed out leaflets and put up posters across Ramsey, Cambridgeshire in a fresh appeal for information.

In June, police announced they had discovered pieces of bone during a painstaking 13-day search on land off Stocking Fen Road, Ramsey, in April.

Forensic tests continue to be carried out on the finds.

Operation Ongar was re-launched on April 10 by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit.

A 64-year-old man from Ramsey who was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder has been released without charge.

Anyone with information should contact the Major Crime Unit on 01480 422791, email operation.ongar@cambs.pnn.police.uk, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

All information given to police will be dealt with sensitively.