Shannon Police Investigate Attempted Abduction

Police are investigating reports of an attempted kidnapping of a child on the same day nine-year-old Shannon Matthews disappeared.

The near abduction happened in Wakefield, near Dewsbury, on Tuesday morning, and Shannon went missing in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, police are making fresh appeals for help in finding the schoolgirl, exactly one week after her disappearance.

Shannon has not been seen since she left school on Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, last Tuesday afternoon.

Detectives say they have not given up hope of finding her alive.

Chief Superintendent Barry South from West Yorkshire Police said: "I think the size of the search, the extent of what we're doing, the resources going in - we're not going to lose hope.

"My priority has been the same right from the very outset - we are doing our best to locate Shannon safe and well."

The community has rallied around the family, with worried neighbours and relatives wearing T-shirts with pictures of the schoolgirl and gathering at the residents' association hall near her home. They are also planning to walk with local children chanting Shannon's name, ending at the family home where they place messages of support.

Police said on Monday that the investigation would not be scaled down and house-to-house inquiries would continue.

(CD)