THREE people were today being quizzed by detectives investigating the disappearance of Southampton mum Belinda Gibson.

The trio - two men and one woman - were arrested in dawn swoops as part of a long-running police inquiry codenamed Operation Asgard.

All were being questioned at Southampton police stations in connection with the mystery disappearance of 32-year-old Mrs Gibson, who was last seen nearly 12 weeks ago.

Meanwhile scenes of crime officers descended on the mother-of-five's home in Purvis Gardens, Sholing, as a detailed forensic search swung into action.

Today police stressed the investigation remained a missing person inquiry and would not disclose further details about any of those arrested. But neighbours told the Daily Echo how a man had been led away in handcuffs from the family home early this morning.

A Hampshire police spokeswoman said: "Two males and a female are helping police with inquiries into the disappearance of Belinda Gibson.

"We are interested in these people to see if they can give us any information.

"We also have a team of scenes of crime officers conducting a fairly routine search of her home address.

"This remains a missing person inquiry and every avenue of information will be explored."

Mrs Gibson, who had been suffering from depression, was last seen at 7am on February 16, when she left the family home.

Police said she had returned a text message on her mobile phone two days later, but said she needed some time to herself.

In March, her husband, David, 31, a martial arts instructor, made an emotional appeal for his wife to get in touch, saying: "We all love her a great deal and really miss her."

Her children Kylie, 13, Ashley, 11, Hollie, seven, Sophie, six, and ten-month-old Daulton were photographed by the Daily Echo after making the heartfelt plea: "Mummy, come home".

Since Mrs Gibson's disappearance, detectives from Bitterne CID have traced all her known relatives and friends but all inquiries have drawn a blank.

Today a uniform officer stood guard outside the front door of the family's semi-detached home.

Forensic teams were carrying out fingertip searches of both the property and the garden.

Meanwhile a recovery truck arrived and took a white Nissan four-by-four vehicle from the driveway, along with a dinghy on a trailer, and later a grey E-reg Ford Capri which had been parked near the house.

Today shocked neighbours told how they had been woken by police arriving in Purvis Gardens, a cul-de-sac largely occupied by young families.

A 38-year-old man living next-door to the Gibsons' house, who asked not to be named, said: "My alarm clock went off at 6am and it all seemed to start from then.

"All I could hear was banging on the front door next-door.

"I looked out of the window and could see a female officer and a male officer who were banging on the door." The neighbour said he had seen a man led from the house in handcuffs and put into a police van.

Another woman living in the close said: "Belinda is a very private person."