Dyfed Police searching for missing five-year-old April Jones have insisted there is still a “realistic prospect” of finding her

Dyfed Powys Police has confirmed it will not scale back the hunt while there is still a hope of finding the child.

April disappeared while out playing with friends on the Bryn-y-Gog estate in Machynlleth in mid Wales, on October 1.

Friends and neighbours have told Sky News that people in the close-knit town have been deeply affected by what has happened.

Locals say people in the town talk of little else.

Helen Powell, who owns a cafe in the centre of Machynlleth, said: “People don’t want to get on with their lives. We want to actually find April to allow us to heal, I guess.

“Because, until we have some sort of conclusion, you can’t move on and we don’t want to move on. We want to find April and bring her home.”

Carwen Sheen, who lives on the same estate as April’s family and has young children of her own, said: “People are holding onto their children as they’re walking now.

“People are scared now because we never thought it would happen in this community. We thought this was the safest place ever to bring up your children and it’s shocked everybody.”

Eighteen specialist teams are continuing to search 60 square kilometres of land around the town.

Recent search efforts have focused on Ceinws, a small village where suspect Mark Bridger was renting a cottage.

The 46-year-old has been charged with April’s murder and abduction. He was remanded in custody after appearing before magistrates this week.

Teams of officers from forces across the UK, including the Metropolitan Police, have been brought in to relieve exhausted teams as the search reaches its twelfth full day.

Superintendent Ian John, leading the search for Dyfed Powys Police, told Sky: “Everything is constantly under review.

“We have the support of police forces around the UK and as long as we have got a reasonable prospect of finding April we will continue this operation.”

Volunteers from the community are still helping the search effort by providing food and clean clothing for the professional rescue teams.

Jo Holt, who knows April’s family, told Sky: “We’re just not going to give up hope. We can’t. Not until she’s home.”

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