Missing April Jones: Sister's Emotional Appeal

The sister of April Jones has made an emotional appeal for her safe return, saying: "I just want our beautiful princess home now. It's been too long."

Jasmine, 16, spoke to reporters as the massive police hunt for the five-year-old girl continued. She added: "Knowing someone knows something but won't say it makes me feel even worse."

It has also been revealed that April's father Paul has a degenerative eye disease and is unable to take part in the searches.

"He's spending time at home - he feels the need to be there for when April comes back," said Sky's Martin Brunt.

Police are searching the three-bedroom cottage, outbuildings, and garden of suspect Mark Bridger, in the hamlet of Ceinws in mid-Wales.

They are also launching a major search of the nearby Dyfi river, involving dog handlers.

Activity at Mr Bridger's white farmhouse intensified as officers were given until 5pm tomorrow to question the 46-year-old. Officers have also searched a guesthouse where Mr Bridger is understood to have worked recently.

The searches came as police used a news conference to appeal for information about Mr Bridger's movements and use of social media around the time April vanished.

Her family also launched a pink ribbon campaign to support the hunt and revealed that the little girl was suffering from cerebral palsy.

Detective Superintendent Reg Bevan said Mr Bridger is being interviewed again today.

He told reporters at the press conference in Aberystwyth: "The investigation continues and our focus remains finding April.

"The investigation team will be interviewing Mark Bridger again today and we will continue to piece together his movements during the relevant times and look to overlay his account with that we've gleaned from witnesses, sightings and the other inquiries that we are conducting."

Police said they would issue another update on the investigation at 5.30pm.

April has been missing since around 7pm on Monday when she vanished while playing with friends.

Det Supt Bevan said a "vast" amount of forensic analysis is being carried out, forming a "crucial part" of the inquiry, but this alone would not find the little girl.

"Again I make an appeal to the public to help us find April, and in particular we are looking to trace the movements of Mark Bridger between 6.30pm on Monday and 3.30pm on Tuesday of this week and any sightings of him between these times," the officer said.

"If anyone has had contact with him during this period, we urge you to come forward.

"And by contact I mean face-to-face contact, telephone contact, texting, social media, any contact whatsoever."

Police are also appealing for information about Mr Bridger's blue Land Rover Discovery, registration number L503 MEP.

Estate agents J H Jones in Machynlleth say his farmhouse, called Mount Pleasant, was sold by them last year. It was on the market for £170,000.

Neighbour Vivian Williams Jones, 68, said it had been empty for several years before Mr Bridger rented it out about a month ago.

“It was eventually sold to someone from London who bought it as a holiday home and never came down here," he told Wales Online.

“I saw him about a month ago and he said that it was just too far for him and he was giving it the once-over before renting it out. I can’t say I’d ever seen him (Mr Bridger), apart from moving about inside."

Meanwhile, people are being urged to fix a pink ribbon to their front doors or gates, or to a wear a pink ribbon, in support of the search.

The five-year-old's godmother Mair Raftree, 41, said pink was April's favourite colour.

Prime Minister David Cameron joined police in urging anyone with information about the whereabouts of the "lovely girl" to speak to officers.

Anyone with information relating to the case is asked to call Child Rescue Alert Line on 0300 2000 333.