The Editor
April Jones. Have you seen this girl?
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Written by Green Arrow
Police and "hundreds" of local residents are searching for a missing five-year-old girl who vanished while playing with friends near her home.
April Jones was last seen getting into a light coloured van which drove off in the mid Wales town of Machynlleth at 7.30pm on Monday.
Dyfed-Powys Police said they are becoming "increasingly concerned" for the missing youngster's safety and have a number of officers and specialist teams involved in the investigation. Hundreds of locals are said to have joined the hunt for April on Monday evening and are expected to continue looking overnight.
Dyfed Powys Police said that April was wearing a purple knee-length coat (shown in left image) with grey fur around the hood, a white polo shirt and black trousers.
The Vehicle
"They describe it as small at the front and large at the back, so it could be interpreted that this could be something similar to a Ford Connect type van or a Land Rover.
"Furthermore April has been described as getting into the driver's side of the vehicle. This may be because she got in with the driver or that it is left hand drive vehicle.
"We still believe that the van is grey or light coloured, but again these things can be affected by failing light and street lamps."
Police ask anyone with any information to call them on 101."
Various Sources
Update:
16:46pm - A 46 year old man has been arrested on 'suspicion of abduction' - 2 miles North of Machynlleth. Police say that he was arrested on foot. He may be on a registered list as the police say they knew who they were looking for.
17:07pm - Police have surrounded a 'van' which they believe belongs to the man they have arrested.
17:16pm - Anyone with information on April Jones' disappearance should call the Police Hotline on - 0300 2000 333
17:27pm - Police have sealed off the A487 in both directions with a helicopter hovering overhead.
17:43pm - Police are examining the vehicle that belongs to the man who has been arrested.
18:08pm - Police and coastguards searching along the banks of the river Dulas.
18:57pm - Police have named the 46 year old local man they have in custody as Mark Bridger.
19:08pm - Sources are saying that 'well known' local man Mark Bridger has two children and one of those children is believed to have been playing with 5 year old April Jones when she was abducted.
Mark Bridger continues to "Help police with their inquiries".
19:16pm: Mark Bridger is believed to have split up with his girlfriend a week ago and is also said to be a former lifeguard at the centre where the search is being co-ordinated from.
19:27pm - Sources reporting that Mark Bridger is a former soldier. Sky news have also spoken to the brother of the former girlfriend of Mark. We are still waiting for an official police statement to confirm these last few updates.
19:47pm - Sky News: News Conference to be held at 21:30pm.
