5 October 2012 Last updated at 15:23

April Jones: Machynlleth search enters fourth evening

The search for April Jones, the five-year-old who went missing in the mid Wales town of Machynlleth on Monday, continued on Thursday, with specialist teams searching along the River Dyfi.

Members of a mountain rescue team search the River Dyfi as the hunt for missing April Jones continues

Community volunteers were asked to keep away from the fast-flowing river, along with the Dyfi forest and other potentially dangerous places, such as mine shafts, while the specialist mountain rescue teams took charge.

Volunteers receive instructions at the Bro Ddyfi Leisure Centre, before resuming their search for missing April Jones

On Thursday morning about 450 volunteers from the Machynlleth area set off on a fresh search for April.

The call for volunteers living within a 10 to 15-mile (16-24km) radius, and with good local knowledge, came from rescue co-ordinators who are operating separately to police. Police have thanked the hundreds of locals who have turned out to scour the countryside.

Police search a caravan close to the of village of Ceinws as part of the hunt for missing April Jones

Police are continuing to co-ordinate the search. They said they were consulting the National Police Search Centre on how best to utilise untrained community volunteers, some of whom grew frustrated at being asked to leave the search to specialists.

Supt Ian John of Dyfed-Powys Police speaks to the press

As the weather closed in on Thursday evening, police held an outdoor press briefing where they thanked those who were helping in the search. Supt Ian John said police had received more than 2,500 calls about the case and had been overwhelmed by the level of support.

Police officers wore pink ribbons as a gesture of support during the press conference.

The volunteers are searching the picturesque area around the 32 villages surrounding Machynlleth, concentrating initially on 15 communities.

Local people tied pink ribbons on railings in Machynlleth to support the search for April Jones

April's mother Coral made a plea for people to wear pink ribbons to support the search for her daughter. Local people also tied pink ribbons to trees and railings around the market town to keep the search at the forefront of people's minds.

Police have been given until 17:00 BST on Friday to question Mark Bridger, 46, a local man who was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of April's abduction. Police also made a fresh appeal to the public for information regarding Mr Bridger's whereabouts before his arrest.

Police search Mark Bridger's house in the village of Ceinws as the hunt for missing April Jones continues

Part of Thursday's police search centred on Mr Bridger's home in the nearby village of Ceinws.

Forensic officers enter the home of Mark Bridger, who remains under arrest in relation to the abduction of April Jones

As day turned to evening, a team of forensic officers were seen entering Mr Bridger's home.

David Cameron issued an appeal for information about the youngster's whereabouts. "My heart just goes out to April's family. This is every family's nightmare," he said. The prime minister, whose late son Ivan had cerebral palsy, said the fact that April has the condition only made the situation worse.

The head teacher of April's school, Gwenfair Glyn, said it had been the hardest week in the school's history. She said it had been an "emotional rollercoaster".

UK

April Jones: Machynlleth search enters fourth evening

Share this page

Related Stories

Services

About BBC News