POLICE INVESTIGATING the disappearance of five-year-old April Jones have been given an extra twelve hours to question the man arrested on suspicion of her abduction.
Sky News reports that police have now begun focusing their search on the rented farmhouse abode of Mark Bridger, the 46-year-old who has already been interviewed twice since April disappeared on Monday evening.
They have searched outhouses at the home as well as the garden.
April’s family have also launched a pink ribbon campaign to support the hunt for the five-year old.
Police had taken the unusual step of naming Bridger yesterday, hoping that sharing his identity and photograph could help bring forward more witnesses.
Police had also seized the left-hand drive Land Rover he was said to be driving. April was last seen by playmates who said she had climbed into what had appeared to be the driver’s side of the vehicle – which would have been the passenger side of the left-hand drive.
Searches on more than 20 sites are to continue this morning, supplemented by significant volumes of public volunteers who are also assisting with the search. Rescue co-ordinators have asked members of the public with good local knowledge to help out as searches resume today.
Last night it emerged that the five-year-old suffers from a mild form of cerebral palsy, which requires daily medication.
April’s godmother Mair Raftree said the girl needed “medication for her health problems and without it she will be in pain”.
“She has been in hospital a few times for her condition and with the cerebral palsy her legs just give way,” Raftree said.
“I am so scared for her and I desperately want her home.”
Police in Wales have stressed that members of the public should not assume that someone else had already contacted them with their information. Detective Superintendent Reg Bevan said: “Even if you feel yours is trivial, please contact us.”
Readers in the UK can call 0300 2000 333 with any information.
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