April Jones: More Time To Question Suspect

Police have been given another 24 hours to question the man arrested on suspicion of murdering missing five-year-old April Jones.

Mark Bridger was driven to Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court in Mid Wales in a prison van with a police convoy, where an application was granted for a final period of extension.

It gives detectives until 5pm tomorrow night before they will have to charge or release him.

After his 25-minute court appearance, the 46-year-old was flanked by two officers as he was escorted back into Aberystwyth Police Station with a blue blanket over his head.

Police are due to give an update on the investigation at a news conference at 5.30pm.

The latest developments came as April's distraught parents Paul, 43, and Coral, 40, issued three new pictures of their daughter.

Mr Bridger was initially arrested on Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of abduction, but detectives announced today that the search had become a murder inquiry.

Police with spades have sealed off an area of shrubland near his rented cottage - one of several areas being examined in the hunt for the little girl.

Officers have insisted that the search - now in its fifth day - will continue. But volunteers have today been asked to stay away and leave the hunt to experts.

Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said: "Clearly it appears that the police are looking for a body and have given up hope of finding April alive."

But one volunteer who has been helping in the search told Sky News: "If they haven't found her yet, there's a chance."

Search teams who battled heavy rain and rough terrain overnight have been focusing on a number of areas, including a small stretch of the Dyfi River.

Dog handlers are also involved and a specialist sonar boat has been brought in to help teams examining the river bed.

Officers were also collecting vegetation and digging through shale with trowels in an area of river bank the size of a tennis court. They have also been searching a steep river bank where witnesses claim to have seen a man with a bin bag.

Police have confirmed that Mr Bridger attended the same school parents' evening as April's mother and father just hours before she disappeared at about 7pm on Monday.

April, who has cerebral palsy, was reported to have willingly got into a vehicle after playing with friends near her home on the Bryn-y-Gog estate in Machynlleth.

Mr Bridger was seen at nearby Ysgol Gynradd Machynlleth school, where two of his children are pupils. Witnesses saw the former leisure centre worker drive to the parents' evening, which started at 5pm, in his blue Land Rover Discovery.

Sources close to Mr and Mrs Jones said the couple had been given a "glowing report" about their daughter's progress - and had allowed her some extra play time when they returned home as a treat.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw Mr Bridger or his blue Land Rover Discovery, registration number L503 MEP, in the hours between April's disappearance and his arrest at 3.30pm on Tuesday.

April's family have launched a pink ribbon campaign to support the search. Her favourite colour is now tied in ribbons on gates and doorways in Machynlleth.

:: Police have been flooded with calls from the public about the case, but they continue to appeal for anyone with information to call the Child Rescue Alert Line on 0300 2000 333.

:: Machynlleth Town Council has set up an appeal fund for April and her family. To make a donation send a cheque payable to MTC-April's Fund, Y Plas, Aberystwyth Road, Machynlleth, Powys, SY20 8ER.