Missing April probe: man arrested (From Free Press Series)

Missing April probe: man arrested

4:53pm Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

A 46-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of missing five-year-old April Jones.

Detective Superintendent Reg Bevan, from Dyfed Powys Police, said the man was arrested in the Machynlleth area on Tuesday afternoon. He was being questioned in Aberystwyth and police were "hopeful that this individual will assist us in locating April, who is still missing".

April was last seen by another child getting into the driver's side of a grey van which drove off in the Mid Wales town of Machynlleth at about 7pm on Monday night.

Mr Bevan said: "We have arrested a 46-year-old male from the Machynlleth area who is being detained at Aberystwyth police station.

"We made the arrest just outside Machynlleth and we are hopeful that this individual will assist us in locating April, who is still missing.

"We are still pursuing all lines of inquiry with a view that April is still alive and we will continue to do so until we find her."

Superintendent Ian John said: "We are continuing our search for April and that continues, as our priority is to find her and bring her home to her family.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has assisted us in this search."

He paid tribute to the local community, British Transport Police, officers from surrounding forces and offers of support from forces around the UK, including the Metropolitan Police, saying it was "the police family really pulling together to try and find April".

He also thanked Aberdovey and Brecon mountain rescue teams.