April Jones: Search activity in Machynlleth 'as intense' as when it first started

Police say the search for missing April Jones in and around Machynlleth is "as intense” now as when it first started.

The five-year-old has not been seen since October 1.

Mark Bridger, 46, of Ceinws, Machynlleth, has been charged with the murder and abduction of April and of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Dyfed-Powys Police search advisor, Inspector Gareth Thomas said 17 teams are currently deployed in the area, including ten CSI Dogs, the force's air support, a marine dive team from South Wales Police and the urban search and rescue team from the fire service.

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“This is a massive search operation," Mr Thomas said.

"We are searching an area of 60 kilometres square and have over 300 specific search areas.

"Each area can be broken down into a number of smaller searches. Some of these areas can take many days to search as the terrain is extremely challenging.

“As the search progresses the activity will vary depending on the site the officers are searching. Some of the areas include woodland, quarries and steep mountains with streams and other limitations like pot holes and mineshafts.

"The current search activity is as intense as when it first started and we will continue to do all that we can with the resources we have available to us from Dyfed-Powys and other police forces, as well as the coastguard and the fire and rescue service.

Police say they are undertaking "a systematic and methodical forensic search of the whole area" which will continue as the weather changes.

Mr Thomas added: “I have been humbled by the commitment of the officers taking part in the searches. We all have a shared goal, and that is to find April. No one wants to stop searching or doing what they can to help.

“We are committed to continue the search while we still have viable lines of enquiry. We will not leave until we are satisfied that we have done all that we can.”