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Police search for missing girl Police search for missing girl
(about 1 hour later)
A search has been launched for a nine-year-old girl who has been missing overnight after she failed to return from school in West Yorkshire.A search has been launched for a nine-year-old girl who has been missing overnight after she failed to return from school in West Yorkshire.
Shannon Matthews' disappearance was reported to police on Tuesday night after she did not return to her home on Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury.Shannon Matthews' disappearance was reported to police on Tuesday night after she did not return to her home on Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury.
Detectives said the schoolgirl, who attends West Moor Junior School, has never been missing before. Ch Supt Barry South said more than 200 officers were involved in the search.
He said: "Her family are obviously devastated. My priority at this moment in time is to find Shannon."
Police said Shannon, who attends West Moor Junior School, has never been missing before.
She was last seen by teachers leaving the school at about 1510 GMT after she had returned from swimming.
Concerns were heightened after temperatures fell to -9C overnight.Concerns were heightened after temperatures fell to -9C overnight.
Shannon is believed to have stayed behind for after school activities and was last seen on the school playing fields at 1930GMT.
We just need to find her and find her quickly Neil Hyett, Shannon's uncleWe just need to find her and find her quickly Neil Hyett, Shannon's uncle
Police searched the nearby area and also carried out checks with friends and family. Ch Supt South said the force's police training school had been shut down for the day to help the search.
Now officers are retracing the route which she may have taken on her way home. "I have got over 200 officers supporting my local neighbourhood policing teams," he said.
Her uncle, Neil Hyett, 36, said dozens of local people had been out until 0400 GMT looking for the little girl. "They have been speaking with friends, speaking with neighbours and relatives."
He explained Shannon, who lives with her mother, Karen, and stepfather, Craig, was a "timid" child. Officers are retracing the route which she may have taken on her way home.
Her uncle, Neil Hyett, 36, said dozens of local people had been out until 0400 GMT looking for the girl.
He said that Shannon, who lives with her mother, Karen, and stepfather, Craig, was a "timid" child.
Mr Hyett said: "We are extremely worried. Her brother, who is 11, has gone missing in the past but not Shannon.Mr Hyett said: "We are extremely worried. Her brother, who is 11, has gone missing in the past but not Shannon.
Police have interviewed neighbours in the search for ShannonPolice have interviewed neighbours in the search for Shannon
"We've been out looking everywhere throughout the night but there's no sign of her."We've been out looking everywhere throughout the night but there's no sign of her.
"It was absolutely freezing. All the adults were so cold, so how cold would she be? "It was absolutely freezing. All the adults were so cold, so how cold would she be? We just need to find her, and find her quickly."
"We just need to find her, and find her quickly." Shannon is described as white, 4ft 1ins (1.2m) tall, with shoulder-length medium brown coloured hair that was possibly tied up in a ponytail.
Shannon is described as white, 4ft 1ins (1.2m) tall with shoulder length medium brown coloured hair that was possibly tied up in a ponytail. She is of slim build with blue eyes and freckles. She was wearing a black school jumper with a school logo on it, a white cotton T-shirt, black trousers and a black waist length coat with fur round the hood.
She is also of slim build with blue eyes and freckles.
The youngster was wearing a black school jumper with a school logo on it, a white cotton T-shirt, black trousers and a black waist length coat with fur round the hood.
She wore pink and grey 'Bratz' furry boots.She wore pink and grey 'Bratz' furry boots.
A neighbour of Shannon's family, Peter Brown, said: "This is an extremely close-knit estate.A neighbour of Shannon's family, Peter Brown, said: "This is an extremely close-knit estate.
"Everyone knows everyone and we're just really worried."Everyone knows everyone and we're just really worried.
"She's just a lovely girl and we just want to get her back.""She's just a lovely girl and we just want to get her back."