Police hunt stepped up as fears for April grow
Man still held in connection with abduction
HUNDREDSof mountain rescue volunteers, dog handlers and police divers have stepped up the hunt for missing five-year-old April Jones as officers were given until mid-morning to question a father of two young girls over her disappearance.
As it emerged the youngster needs constant medication to treat her cerebal palsy and irritable bowel syndrome, police insisted the size of the operation sent a signal they were not scaling back the search.
Withthe hunt entering a fourth day since April disappeared while playing with friends outside her home in Machynlleth in midWales, it narrowed to 20 locations, including houses, outbuildings, open areas and river banks around the country town.
The Dyfed-Powys force had been given an extra 12 hours to question local manMarkBridger, 46. After the time period elapses, senior investigating officers can decide whether to apply to a court for a warrant of further detention.
Bridger, who has two daughters aged seven and 10 and lived just yards from where April was snatched on the Bryn-y-Gog housing estate, remained in police custody.
Police would give no details of what their questioning of Mr Bridger had revealed. His children were regular playmates of April, who was last seen willingly climbing into a left-hand driver Land Rover Discovery at around 7pm on Monday.
Neighbours told how the former lifeguard and soldier is well-known on the estate where April lives. His former wife and three former partners also live in the area. He has a further four children from other relationships and is believed to have lived in Machynlleth for around 15 years.
Po l i c e said they had interviewed Mr Bridger twice since his arrest on Tuesday evening and are looking into his past to build up a profile.
They also took the unusual step of issuing images of Mr Bridger and his blue LandRover Discovery, which has the registration L503 MEP, as part of an appeal to track his movements from the time of the abduction to his arrest. They later said this had generated more than 400 calls from the public.
Superintendent Ian John said the search for April was growing. He added: “In no way are we scaling back our search and we remain completely focused and committed to finding April.”
The force has 100 mountain rescue volunteers, more than 100 police-trained search officers, 20 dog handlers, two boats from the RNLI, a team of kayakers and the force’s marine unit taking part in the search. Three UK experts have also been
There must be someone who knows where she is and can help the police find her ... we are desperate for any news
drafted in to help with the hunt. Meanwhile, April’s mother made a desperate plea for help finding her daughter.
Coral Jones, 40, said: “We are desperate for any news. April is only five-years-old. Please, please help find her.”
Mrs J o n e s , wh o wa s accompanied by her stepfather, April’s step-grandfather, Dai Smith, sobbed as she said: “It’s been 36 hours since April was taken from us.
“There must be someone out there who knows where she is and can help the police find her. We are desperate for any news.”
Mr Bridger was arrested walking about two miles north of the town by a police patrol. His car was later seized from a repair garage in the town and is being examined by forensics officers.
Mr Bridger’s teenage son had joined volunteers in the search.
Scott Williams said he had been estranged from his father for most of his life and only met him a couple of months ago.
He said: “I have only met him on a couple of occasions. It was a shock when we heard he’d been arrested.” SCOTTISH Ballet performers took to the stage at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow last night to perform a dress rehearsal of their latest production.
The company is presenting a triple bill of works, which will debut at the Theatre Royal tonight before touring Scotland. The autumn season production is split into three pieces, including Martin Lawrence’s Run for It – photographed above – which sees the dancers take on a sporty athleticism in striking blue costumes.
The production also features William Forsythe’s Workwithinwork and Manen’s 5 Tangos.
It will travel to the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Eden Court, Inverness and His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen later this month. Picture: Colin Mearns