DETECTIVES have arrested four men after two men were murdered 14 years ago.

Jason Martin-Smith and Jimmy Millen died in 2001 and their murders have remained unsolved.

Officers from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team made the arrests early this morning and the men are still in police custody.

A 46-year-old St Leonards man has been detained on suspicion of conspiracy to murder Jimmy Millen, a 34-year-old man and a 36-year-old man, also from St Leonards, were arrested on suspicion of murdering Jason Martin-Smith and conspiracy to murder Jimmy Millen and a 42-year-old man from Hastings was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder of Jason Martin-Smith.

The arrests relate to the homicide investigations into Jason Martin-Smith and Jimmy Millen who were murdered in Hastings in 2001.

Despite a major investigation and exhaustive enquiry, the cases remain unsolved.

Mr Millen aged 27 was shot as he worked on his car in Carpenter Drive, Hastings on October 24, 2001. He died in Carpenter Drive after the passenger on a black motorbike fired shots from a handgun. The bike drove off from Tilebarn Road where Mr Millen was shot and past the junction of Lancaster Road. It then went toward the Castleham Industrial Estate.

During this investigation information came to light that 28-year-old Jason Martin-Smith, an acquaintance of Millen, who had disappeared in August 2001 in Hastings had been abducted and murdered. His body has never been found.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Rymarz from the Major Crime Team said: "These arrests have come about as a result of an internal review of the two cases and our determination to provide justice for the families of the victims.

"We are providing support to the victims' families and keeping them informed of the activity.

"This is an unresolved case and we are still appealing for information from the public. This can be given anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers.

"There is a police reward of £10,000 from 2001, for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder of Jimmy Millen."

Contact police on 101 quoting Operation Fare or ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.