THE body of Sian O’Callaghan was yesterday found in Oxfordshire countryside.

Police had been searching for Miss O’Callaghan since she went missing after leaving a nightclub in her home town of Swindon in the early hours of Saturday.

Yesterday, following the arrest of a man in Swindon, the search for Sian and another as-yet unidentified person swung 15 miles from where she disappeared from to land just off the B4507 near the White Horse at Uffington.

Last night, a police spokesman said one of the bodies was that of 22-year-old Miss O’Callaghan.

He said: “Wiltshire Police would like to make it clear that while the location of two bodies has been identified to the senior investigating officer, only one body has currently been found.

“This is believed to be Sian O’Callaghan.”

A tent had been set up over the first body in a ditch just off the B4507, which was sealed off between Broad Way to Blowingstone Hill.

The arrested man was named in Swindon as 47-year-old Christopher Halliwell. Police swooped on him while he was at Asda Walmart in north Swindon and was last night being quizzed by detectives on suspicion of murder and kidnap.

A house in Dorcan in the town is being searched.

Horseracing broadcaster Luke Harvey, who lives in Fawler, close to the search site, said police activity started at about noon with two helicopters scouring the area.

He said a fingertip search by police had focused between Fawler and the B4507. He said: “There were just groups of the police methodically searching the fields around the hill.”

Graham Banks, chairman of Uffington Parish Council, said there was a feeling of shock and sadness in the village.

He said: “There were police stopping vehicles on the Wantage to Ashbury road that goes past the hill. That was at about 5pm.

“Then I heard why. It is a feeling of shock and sadness.”

Mr Banks said the area was popular with locals and visitors.

He added: “There would be tourists every day up there, people on horseback and people walking dogs.

“Although it is not near habitation, it is certainly not a deserted area.”

A Kingston Lisle villager said: “It’s horrendous. I cannot think of any other adjective to describe it.

“It is very sad for everyone involved. I can’t think of how to digest it at the moment.”

Gareth Shorten, 23, from Kingston Lisle, said: “There have been police flying about all afternoon.

“It is a bit of a shock, to be honest. We thought the road was closed because of an accident.”

At a press conference Det Supt Steve Fulcher, leading the murder inquiry, said: “A 47-year-old man from Swindon is in custody, having been arrested for kidnap and two murders.

“The location of two bodies have been identified to me by this individual, one of whom has yet to be identified formally, but I am quite clear it is Sian.

“I have informed Sian’s family, who are obviously deeply distressed.

“The public and the media have been a fantastic help in the desperate effort to find Sian over the last few days. This has, of course, been a fast-paced inquiry.”

Miss O’Callaghan was last seen on March 18 after going for a night out with girl friends in the Old Town area of Swindon, although she was captured at 2.52am on CCTV the following morning leaving the Suju club in the High Street.

She never made it home to the flat she shared with her boyfriend, Kevin Reape, 25, just a half-a-mile away.