Every family’s worst nightmare: Hundreds join search for missing April, 5

The little girl was last seen by another child getting into the driver’s side of a grey van which drove off in the Mid Wales town of Machynlleth at about 7pm yesterday.

Detective Superintendent Reg Bevan, from Dyfed Powys Police, told a media conference today that he was not sure whether April had been led to the vehicle or went there herself.

He said: “The indications are that she got into the vehicle willingly.”

Asked if there were any signs that there was a struggle, he said: “It’s very difficult to give an exact account of what happened. There’s nothing to suggest at this stage that there was a struggle when she got into the car.”

Investigators are now trying to get accurate information from the children who were with her around the time she was kidnapped.

Mr Bevan said: “I am mindful that we are still in the process of speaking to these children.

“That is delicate and time-consuming. We are trying to extract exactly what they have seen and we are very anxious to provide the most accurate information we can without misleading anyone in any way.”

April got into a grey van that has been described as small at the front and large at the back.

Mr Bevan went on: “That could be interpreted as something small to a Ford Connect van, something like a Land Rover, and also that April got into the driver’s side.

“That may well be that she got in with the driver, but of course that could mean that it’s a left-hand-drive vehicle.

“The colour has not changed, that’s as we initially gave it - grey.”

Repeating pleas for any information, he said the force would be combing through CCTV to find out what happened and initially concentrating searches in the immediate area.

He said specialist officers are supporting April’s family, during what must be “their worst nightmare”.

Mr Bevan said: “The family, as you would imagine, it must be their worst nightmare. As you would expect, it is a very, very difficult time for them.

“But we do have specialist advisers with them and we will provide them with all the support that we can.”

He told reporters that police were keeping an “open mind” in relation to the question of whether April had been taken by a stranger or someone she knew.

“We are keeping an open mind, we are pursuing all lines of inquiry,” he said.

“Clearly April has got into the vehicle, there is nothing to suggest otherwise, so we are mindful of the circumstances that led up to that.

“I am unable to give too much information because it is early days in the inquiry and we are anxious that the information that I am able to give is something that we can confirm.”

Police have an initial description of the suspect but have not yet released it. They have appealed for anybody with relevant CCTV footage to come forward.

Mr Bevan said: “Obviously, if somebody has any footage that they feel may be of assistance, if it matches the description of the vehicle I have given, if it is of any movements in or around that time, 7pm last night, then we would be anxious for people to come forward.”

Volunteers, who had been congregating at the local leisure centre since this morning, are now helping with a mass police-organised search for April.

Each group, consisting of 20 people and led by an expert, has been given an assigned area to scour.

Police hope this organised and methodical approach will be much more effective - and hopefully successful - in tracing the youngster.

Reports said the advice given to those taking part was not to pick up any piece of child’s clothing they discovered, in case such an item may yield key forensic clues.

A picture of April will be featured on digital billboards across the UK with a message urging anyone with information to call the Child Rescue Alert helpline on 0300 2000 333 or the charity Missing People in confidence on 116 000.

Martin Houghton-Brown, the charity’s chief executive, said: “Whilst abduction is very rare, when it happens, everyone must work together - the police, charities and the media.

“This digital billboard campaign is just one strand of that partnership. We sincerely hope that April is found safe and well very soon.”