The Hampshire dad of a man arrested on suspicion of the murder of missing teenager Gaia Pope has accused police of a 'witch hunt' against his family.

Greg Elsey spoke as family members, friends and other members of the public gathered at Durlston Country Park in Swanage as the hunt for 19-year-old Gaia enters its 11th day.

Meanwhile Greg's son Paul, arrested on suspicion of murdering Gaia, has gone into hiding to escape the 'unfair attention', it was claimed.

The family of the 49-year-old said he is ‘fine’ but added ‘all the attention he is receiving is not fair’.

They have accused the police of a 'witch hunt' after three family members were arrested in a matter of days and then all released.

Paul's father Greg, 69, said his son is not at his home in West Wellow, near Romsey.

Speaking outside his bungalow Mr Elsey said: “Paul is fine but all this attention isn’t fair, please just give him some space.

“What I will say is the way the police have handled this is terrible, it’s shocking.”

He also refused to confirm if Nathan, 19, and his grandmother Rosemary, 71, who were both initially arrested, were still in the house but said the keys to their home in Swanage have been handed back.

Paul was arrested on Thursday afternoon on suspicion of Gaia's murder but released after 24 hours.

All three were released under investigation.

Mr Elsey added: "My family has totally been the victim of a witch hunt. Police should start looking elsewhere.

"I think of the public money which has been wasted, which could have been spent searching for Gaia and finding those clothes a long time ago.

"It is terrible for Gaia's family. I feel dreadfully sorry for them, I really do. I know if I was in their position I would be devastated."

Mr Elsey revealed his son Paul was working all day 30 miles from Swanage when Gaia went missing and had told police officers when being quizzed: “What on earth am I doing here?”

Mr Elsey said he is ‘bewildered’ by his son’s arrest and that he is now staying at a friend’s house.

He said Dorset Police have confiscated his son’s phone as well as his grandson Nathan’s, Rosemary’s and Debbie’s.

Debbie, Nathan’s mother, has also had her appointment book confiscated by police, meaning the nail technician cannot run her business.

Mr Elsey said of his son: “I’m absolutely bewildered that he was arrested, I’ve got no idea why he was taken.

“I mean, for God’s sake, he was working all day in Weymouth when Gaia went missing, he had nothing to do with it."

Earlier today crowds garthered to help search for Gaia were were greeted at the scene by her father, Richard Sutherland, who said: “A huge thank you all for coming out today. It’s very heart-warming and the support gives us a lot of hope so thank you very much.”

PC Simon Colvin, neighbourhood police officer for Swanage, also thanked those involved and gave them advice.

He said: “Some of you have travelled a long way. I saw on Facebook that someone has travelled 300 miles to come here today, so people’s help really is appreciated.

"Out on the cliffs and the fields and all around Swanage there are mines, some of these will be covered in brambles, so really be careful where you’re going.

"Sundown will be about 4.15pm, so we would like everyone back here by 4pm. The last thing we need is anyone endangering themselves that could take resources away elsewhere.

“As well as your searches today there’s a search by the police that consists of 50 personnel, which is led by the police but includes other agencies such as coastguards and the fire brigade”

“If you find something that you think we may be interested in, leave it, call us and that decision will be made.”

Many of the police officers are continuing to search on the clifftops near Dancing Ledge, Dorset, where women's clothing was found in a field.

Gaia, who suffers from extreme epilepsy, was last seen in Morrison Road, Swanage at around 4pm on Tuesday November 7.