Investigation Continues Into Shannon's Disappearance

The investigation into the disappearance of nine-year-old Shannon Matthews is continuing, amid increasing fears that she may have been abducted.

Shannon has not been seen since she failed to return to her home in Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, West Yorkshire, following a school swimming trip on February 19.

A search, involving around 250 police officers and sniffer dogs, is continuing and police have appealed for anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in and around Shannon's school - Westmoor Junior School - on the day of her disappearance to contact them.

On Tuesday, around 1,500 motorists in Dewsbury were stopped and questioned by police searching for the missing nine-year-old and police confirmed that more than 500 calls have been received from members of the public.

A police spokesperson said: "Yesterday, officers spoke to around 1,500 motorists in an information seek in the Dewsbury Moor area and used large electronic boards to appeal for information from the public."

Detective Superintendent Andy Brennan, who is leading the search for Shannon, said: "We are using all available technology and expertise that is available including national search co-ordinators and behaviourial experts.

"Whilst we hope and pray that Shannon will be located safe and well, we remain gravely concerned for her wellbeing.

"We are not excluding any possibility as to what has happened to Shannon that afternoon and our investigation is structured to reflect those concerns."

Shannon is described as timid and is white, around 4ft 1in tall, with shoulder-length medium-brown hair, which may have been tied in a ponytail.

When she was last seen, she was wearing a black jumper with a school logo, a white cotton T-shirt, black trousers, a waist-length black coat with fur around the hood and distinctive pink and grey 'Bratz' furry boots.

Anyone with any information regarding Shannon's disappearance is asked to contact West Yorkshire Police on: 01274 373737 or text: 07786 200806. Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on: 0800 555 111.

(KMcA)