TV comedian Michael Barrymore was arrested yesterday by detectives investigating the suspected murder of a man found floating in a swimming pool at the star's home.

Barrymore, 49, of Roydon, Essex, was being questioned last night about alleged drugs offences by officers probing the death of 31-year-old Stuart Lubbock, of Harlow, Essex.

Two other men were also in custody at Harlow Police Station after being arrested on suspicion of Mr Lubbock's murder.

The meat factory worker was found unconscious in Barrymore's pool in the early hours of Saturday, March 31. He was declared dead shortly afterwards in hospital.

Post mortem tests showed that he had died from drowning. Police are now studying a report on the results of toxicological tests carried out on Mr Lubbock's body.

He is also thought to have had violent sex with two men before he died, according to unconfirmed reports.

Police have not officially named any of the three men arrested yesterday.

But Barrymore was seen arriving at Harlow Police Station shortly before 9am.

A police spokesman said: "Officers from the Essex Police major investigation team at Harlow, who are investigating the death of 31-year-old Stuart Lubbock, have arrested three men.

"One man, aged 31, from Blackpool, Lancashire, and one man, aged 26, from Harlow have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

"The third man, aged 49, and from Roydon, has been arrested on suspicion of possession and supply of a class B drug, possession of a class A drug and allowing premises to be used for the taking of a class B drug."

Last night, the 26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder was released without charge on police bail pending further inquiries.

Barrymore is known to have been abroad recently and flew in to Heathrow Airport from Dubai on Tuesday night.

The comedian said nothing to waiting journalists as he arrived at the police station yesterday.

A crowd gathered outside the station during the day hoping to see the star, whose shows include Kids Say The Funniest Things and My Kind of People.

A spokesman for ITV said there were no plans to scrap any of Barrymore's shows.

"We are not axing any of Michael's programmes, he has one series of Kids Do The Funniest Things already in the can and he has a contract with us until next year," she said.