HER family and the local community were in celebratory mood when it was revealed Shannon Matthews was alive and well.

But yesterday, as the elation died down, the focus turned to the little nine-year-old girl and exactly what had happened to her during those missing 24 days.

Her mother Karen Matthews, 32, said last night she understood her daughter could be away from home for some time as police try to discover how she ended up in a flat in Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, after vanishing following a school swimming trip.

They will want to know what has happened to her during her days and nights away from home.

West Yorkshire Police have begun gently interviewing the little girl and said they had got her some DVDs and a kitten to play with. But it is a process that will take time.

Shannon's mother said her family have got her some new pink bedding for her bedroom and plan to have a party to welcome her back to her home in Dewsbury Moor.

Police have said the schoolgirl is "on the road to recovery" but have said she has been made the subject of an emergency police protection order, placing her in their care.

Mrs Matthews said: "I fully understand that the police need to keep speaking to Shannon to establish exactly what has happened during the time that she has been missing. I appreciate that could take some time and is not something that is going to happen overnight."

Shannon was discovered by police on Friday in the drawer of a divan bed at a flat less than one mile from her home in Dewsbury Moor.

Michael Donovan, 39, formerly known as Paul Drake, was arrested on suspicion of Shannon's abduction at a property in Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr. He is the uncle of Shannon's stepfather, Craig Meehan.

Police have rebuffed criticism of the time it took them to find Shannon so close to her family home.

Police sources said there were "literally hundreds of people" in a "huge family network" that required a large amount of resources.

Locals living near where Shannon was discovered have alleged they contacted police with concerns about activity at the flat where she was found but it is understood these tip-offs may have been overstated and did not directly point to the girl being hidden there.

Mrs Matthews and her partner Mr Meehan, 22, arrived back home to Moorside Road in Dewsbury on Saturday and were met by cheering friends and family at their door. They posed for pictures and in a statement Mrs Matthews spoke of her joy at earlier being reunited with the schoolgirl.

"I never gave up hope and now she'll be able to come home and sleep in her room again. We've got her new pink bedding which she'll love," Mrs Matthews said.

"The police have helped a lot. We can't thank them enough."

Mrs Matthews said the support from the local community had been "fantastic" and she thanked them for their letters and cards of hope.

"We're just happy to be a family again. That's all we've wanted – Shannon back and safe – now the family is safe again," she said.

The Westmoor Junior School pupil disappeared after going on a trip to nearby swimming baths on February 19.

Police launched a massive investigation, and many members of the local community also helped with the searches and with keeping the case in the media spotlight.

The Rev Kathy Robertson, of the Dewsbury Team Parish, said Mrs Matthews and her partner were looking forward to having their daughter back home.

"They are really good and really relieved that Shannon has been found alive and well," she said after visiting their home yesterday morning.

"They are looking forward to having her in their own home."

She said the atmosphere in the house was one of "anticipation".

She added: "Anyone in that situation would just want to take their child in their arms again."