POLICE investigating the disappearance of teenager Becky Watts say they have found body parts at a house in Bristol.

Detective Superintendent Mike Courtiour said her family had been told of the "devastating" news.

Becky vanished from her home more than a week ago.

Wiltshire officers were among those from other forces drafted in to take part in the search for Becky.

Mr Courtier, of Avon and Somerset Police, said in a statement this morning: "As a result of new information received late last night, we attended a house at Barton Court in the Barton Hill area of Bristol.

"The information suggested that Becky's body had been cut up and a search at the new location resulted in the discovery of body parts.

"Although formal identification procedures have not yet been completed, we have made Becky's family aware of this discovery.

"As a result of this latest development, a further three men and two women have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

"They remain in police custody at this time as do the man and the woman arrested on suspicion of Becky's murder.

"This is devastating news for Becky's family and friends and our thoughts are with them. We will continue to offer every support we can to them during this terrible ordeal."

The men arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender are aged 29, 29, 23 and 23. The woman is also aged 23.

The family of Becky Watts have said they are "devastated" after the body parts were found.

In a statement released by police, Becky's mother Tania, grandmother Pat and brother Daniel Watts said: "We are devastated to be told of this latest development.

"We are at an utter loss to understand why anyone would want to hurt our beautiful Becky in such a brutal way.

"We are grateful to the police for all they have done and are continuing to do in this investigation.

"Whilst there are people in custody, none of whom are connected to the Watts family, we will not be making any further comment and we ask that our privacy is respected at this horrific time."

Earlier Avon and Somerset Police said there had been a "significant development" last night in the search for missing Becky.

Two people were already in custody on suspicion of murdering the 16-year-old from St George, Bristol.

A 28-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of kidnapping the teenager. They were further arrested yesterday on suspicion of her murder.

Becky left home with her phone, laptop and tablet computer but did not tell friends or family where she was going, or take extra clothing.

Police have been searching for her since she was reported missing by her family at 4pm on February 20.

Speaking at the weekend, Becky's father, Darren Galsworthy, and stepmother, Angie-Mae Galsworthy, said they would "prepare ourselves for the worst".

"Rebecca has still not been found," they said in a statement issued through police.

"We continue to hope that she will be found safe and unharmed but we will prepare ourselves for the worst."

Mr Galsworthy told ITV News that his family "need closure".

"It's an absolute hell-on-earth nightmare that seems to be going on and on forever," he said.

"We just need closure, we want it all to go away, get everything back to normal, get my little girl home."

The teenager's uncle, Sam Galsworthy, said no-one on her father's side had any connection to her disappearance.

Seeking to end speculation and rumour, he told ITV News: "We want to make it absolutely clear that no member of Darren's side of the family are implicated in any way.

"Every family member who was part of our search for Rebecca still remains with us."

Hundreds of leaflets have been printed and a social media campaign, using the hashtag #FindBecky, has gained thousands of hits.

The total reach for the social media campaign to find her has been more than four million people worldwide.

Becky is described as 5ft 4in and slim, with long, bright red hair, and she was wearing a dark navy blue Puffa-style jacket with fabric sleeves.

Timeline of events

February 18: Becky stays overnight at a friend's house.

February 19: The 16-year-old returns to her home in Crown Hill, St George, Bristol, at around 11.15am. She leaves home with her phone, laptop and tablet computer but does not tell friends or family where she is going, or take extra clothing.

February 20: The teenager is reported missing by her family at 4pm.

February 23: Her father, Darren Galsworthy, and grandmother, Pat Watts, appeal for her to come home.

February 24: Police appeal to local communities to help find Becky.

February 26: Detectives say there is "nothing to suggest" the missing girl has come to harm despite her father's fears that she may have been attacked.

February 27: Police carry out specialist open water searches of a pond in St George's Park, which they say is a "routine" part of the investigation and not based on specific intelligence.

February 28: Two people are arrested in connection with Becky's disappearance.

March 1: Police confirm that no significant items have been identified during searches carried out within a 1.25 mile (2km) radius of Becky's home.

March 2: Police are given a further 36 hours to question two people arrested in connection with her disappearance.

March 3: Body parts are found at a new location and five more arrests are made.