April Jones search now moves on to forests
Specialist teams looking for missing five-year-old April Jones have ended their search of the river near her home and are now examining a nearby forests.
Ten specialist teams involving police and rescuers have moved their operation to the nearby Dyfi and Tanycoed forests and outlying farmland.
The move comes as the Duke of Cambridge wrote to thank them for their efforts to find the little girl, who vanished from outside her home in Machynlleth on October 1.
Superintendent Ian John said: "The search for April Jones continues using teams from across the UK. Numbers fluctuate depending on demand and needs for each search area, currently we have 10 specialist teams searching the Dyfi and Tanycoed forests.
"We are continuing to support April Jones' family and maintaining dialogue with the community to keep the Machynlleth area updated."
He said the areas being covered it about 6,000 hectares of land surrounding the river. We've still got a number of search areas to investigate but at the moment teams are primarily working the in Dyfi Forest," he said. "We are not searching the river actively now."
In his letter, which was simply signed 'William', the Duke of Cambridge said: "I am time and again made to feel so proud and so humbled by our rescue teams - the lengths you go in your work, your commitment and dedication to the job, and your extraordinary professionalism. This was as evident as ever in the recent search for little April Jones, who was so awfully taken away from her family."
Mark Bridger, 46, of Ceinws, near Machynlleth, has been charged with April's murder and abduction and is due to appear at Caernarfon Crown Court on January 11.
