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| Police search for missing girl | Police search for missing girl |
| (40 minutes 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. |
| Ch Supt Barry South said more than 200 officers were involved in the search. | 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." | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| We just need to find her and find her quickly Neil Hyett, Shannon's uncle | We just need to find her and find her quickly Neil Hyett, Shannon's uncle |
| Ch Supt South said the force's police training school had been shut down for the day to help the search. | Ch Supt South said the force's police training school had been shut down for the day to help the search. |
| "I have got over 200 officers supporting my local neighbourhood policing teams," he said. | "I have got over 200 officers supporting my local neighbourhood policing teams," he said. |
| "They have been speaking with friends, speaking with neighbours and relatives. | |
| He said he was keeping an open minded into Shannon's disappearance. | |
| "I'm obviously concerned about the low temperatures overnight. I'm hoping she may be somewhere tucked up safe and well." | |
| Officers are retracing the route which she may have taken on her way home. | 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. | 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. | 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 Shannon | Police 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? We just need to find her, and find her quickly." | "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." |
| 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 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 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." |