The timing of former News International Chief Executive Rebekah Brooks’s arrest “stinks”, the solicitor representing Milly Dowler’s family has said.

Brooks was arrested on Sunday two days before she was due to appear in front of the parliament at the culture media and sport select committee.

The Dowler family solicitor Mark Lewis told Sky News: “The timing, the timing stinks”.

He added: “I think it’s an incredible bit of timing I think it gives this impression that those questions can’t be answered...

"It looks deliberate I’m sorry about that but it looks deliberate.”

MPs have also questioned the timing of Brooks’ arrest, with Chris Bryant telling Sky News that it was “unusual”.

The Labour MP said: "I think this is rather odd timing, to happen on a Sunday and to happen just two days before her appearance.

"Maybe the police are trying to protect evidence, but plenty of people will be saying, 'This is an opportunity for her to get out of saying things to the Culture Committee.'"

Mr Bryant added: "It's good news that clearly the news Metropolitan police investigation and the new assistant commissioner's doing a thorough job - a job incidentally that should have been done in 2006."