Police investigating the murder of schoolgirl Milly Dowler say they have ruled out a mass DNA screening of men living in a Sunderland town.

Earlier this month it was revealed a DNA sample taken after a theft at St Paul's Church, in Ryhope, was found to be a "direct hit" with DNA found on a piece of Milly's clothing.

Surrey Police travelled to the town and took samples from 46 men connected with the church.

But on Monday, officers said they had failed to find a match for the mystery DNA.

Coffee cup

Surrey Police have been back to Ryhope, but said any more screening would be intelligence led.

About 4,000 men live in the Ryhope area.

The DNA had been found on an item in the 13-year-old's bedroom, and was matched to the sample found bychance on a coffee cup at the scene of the church theft on 31 October 2002.

A spokesman for Surrey Police said the force was disappointed not to have found a match for the sample found on Milly's clothing.

Historical item

Milly disappeared while walking home from school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, on 21 March 2002.

Her remains were discovered in Yateley Heath Woods in Hampshire on 20 September.

The item of clothing belonging to the 13-year-old was what police termed an "historical" item from the teenager's bedroom, and not found at the murder scene.