April Jones abduction: Appeal over arrested man's Land Rover Discovery

  • Published
Media caption,

Det Supt Reg Bevan: "We can confirm that we have arrested Mark Bridger and he remains in custody"

Police have released a picture of a blue Land Rover Discovery belonging to a man arrested over the disappearance of April Jones.

They have appealed for anyone who may have seen the vehicle or its owner between Monday at 17:00 and 15:30 BST on Tuesday to contact them.

April Jones disappeared in Machynlleth at 19:00 BST on Monday.

Police confirmed they have been questioning 46-year-old Mark Bridger, who lives locally.

Det Supt Reg Bevan, who is leading the inquiry, said: "We can confirm that we have in fact arrested Mark Leonard Bridger and he remains in custody in Aberystwyth.

"We appeal to anyone who has seen him in the past few days. We are in the process of piecing together his movements and that of his vehicle from 5pm on Monday to 3.30pm on Tuesday afternoon when Mark Bridger was arrested.

Image caption,
April was last seen wearing this purple knee-length coat

"He was wearing a camouflage green jacket and black waterproof over trousers when he was arrested."

Det Supt Bevan showed pictures of Mr Bridger and of his blue Land Rover Discovery, registration number L503MEP, and asked for anyone who had seen it to get in touch.

"The Land Rover Discovery was recovered from a repair garage in the Old Station Road area of Machynlleth on Tuesday afternoon," he said.

"We are pursuing a number of lines of inquiry, one of which is Mark Bridger.

"Please can you look at these images - did you see that vehicle between Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon?

"Do know Mark Bridger and did you see him again between Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon?

"If you did, please don't assume someone else has already contacted us.

"Even if you have the smallest information it could be crucial to the investigation."

Image caption,
Mark Bridger and his blue Land Rover Discovery - registration L503MEP

Dyfed-Powys Police told an earlier news conference at 07:30 BST on Wednesday they had been "overwhelmed" by the response from volunteers but now urged the public to leave the search to trained teams.

Supt Ian John said more than 40 skilled officers, including dog handlers and helicopters with thermal imaging, searched overnight and resumed at daybreak.

North Wales Police officers are assisting Dyfed-Powys in the investigation and the South Wales force sent a team of eight specialists.

Particular area

Coastguard teams as well as RNLI inshore lifeboats have also been drafted in to search along the River Dyfi.

The coastguard's Derek Robers saidL "The police are heading this investigation and we are guided by what they want us to search.

"We've been told to search this particular area."

Supt John thanked members of the public for their help but said conditions were "very challenging" and he did not want officers distracted by concerns for their safety.

He said experience suggested any breakthrough in the search for April would be at a local level and it continues to be centred around the market town.

Hundreds of volunteers from across the country joined the search on Tuesday and those arriving at Machynlleth leisure centre early on Wednesday were turned away.

On Tuesday, April's family said they were "shattered" by her disappearance.

A statement, describing April as a "beautiful little girl" and said: "Please, please if you have our little girl, let her come home to us."

Mr Bridger was arrested at 15:30 BST while walking along the A487 main road north out of Machynlleth. The route remains closed in both directions as far as Cross Foxes, near Dolgellau, 12 miles away.

Det Supt Reg Bevan described him as a "significant individual".

April's godmother Mair Raftree, 41, from Aberystwyth, described April as "a quiet girl".

"She would never go with anybody and ask for a lift. We just want her back safely," she added.

A further news conference was expected later at 12:00 BST on Wednesday.

Dyfed-Powys Police have asked anyone with information to contact a dedicated hotline on 0300 2000 333.

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