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SHANNON FOUND: Live updates 3.09pm
With Shannon Matthews found alive keep up to speed on developments as it happens. 3.09pm.
SHANNON FOUND: Click here for latest story.
Monday 17 March
3.09am - Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison tells the media: "Shannon is safe and well away from the flashing lens and glare of publicity. She is in safe and caring hands. She is in the hands of people who can be trusted to do everything needed for her welfare and where we can speak to her over the days that follow."
He added: "We're looking for information and evidence we might be able to find from here."
He confirmed they have spoken to Shannon in 10-15 minute sessions at a time.
3.06pm - The jigsaw pieces came together on Thursday evening, says West Yorkshire's Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison, dismissing people who claimed police had the information early in the investigation as fantasists.
3.02pm - Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison says 3,000 houses searched and 6,000 people interviewed during the investigation into Shannon Matthews' disappearance.
11.56am - Police are granted an extension to question Mick Donovan, the man arrested in connection with the alleged abduction of Shannon Matthews.
11.38am - Sky News screen pictures of a man believed to be Mick Donovan being led out of Halifax Police Station under a blanket.
10.22am - Mrs Matthews and Mr Meehan returned with the officers and went back into the house without saying anything.
The family had apparently been on a shopping trip to the local Asda store and a few minutes later the liaison officers brought in several bags of groceries.
8.53am - Karen Matthews, boyfriend Craig and Shannon's sister Courtney are driven off by police from their Moorside Road home. None have been arrested.
8.45am - Shannon's mum still has not hugged her daughter Shannon. To read more click here.
8.31am - Shannon's mum speaks to the Yorkshire Evening Post. To read more click here.
8.28am - Police respond to questions about why it took 24 days to find Shannon. To read more click here.
Sunday 16 March
3.46pm - Police continue to quiz Michael Donovan, the man arrested in connection with Shannon's 24-day disappearance.
Saturday 15 March
7.09am - Shannon's best friend Megan Aldridge is all smiles as she hears her best friend is coming home. Megan, of Dewsbury, is said to have been "in bits" over the 24 days her best pal Shannon Matthews was missing.
8.09pm - West Yorkshire Police say Shannon Matthews has been made the subject of an Emergency Police Protection Order.
4.14pm - CLICK HERE TO SEND US YOUR REACTION TO THE NEWS THAT SHANNON HAS BEEN FOUND. WE WILL PUBLISH THE LOT.
4.10pm - Leon Rose, Shannon's dad, says he is 'over the moon' and wants to thank everyone for their help in finding his daughter.
3.52pm - Peter Brown, who lives in Shannon's road, said he was the first one to tell Karen Matthews that her daughter was alive.
He said: "She just froze. She was in shock. Then her reaction was crying.
"After that, she had a phone call from the police liaison officer. They came to pick her up, Karen and Craig both left the house together.
"We're going to have a party tonight."
3.40pm - Family friend Peter Brown says Shannon's mum Karen was delighted and shocked that her daughter was alive.
3.38pm - Conservative leader David Cameron said he was "delighted" to hear that Shannon had been found alive.
Speaking to reporters at his party's spring forum in Gateshead, Mr Cameron said: "I just feel huge relief on behalf of Shannon and her family.
"It is wonderful news that she's been found alive and, I hope, well.
"So often in these cases, you wait and you wait and then you hear tragic and awful news. All of us were thinking that was maybe what might happen and it is great that she is alive."
3.36pm - A large area of Batley Carr had been sealed off by police, with police tape surrounding one long terrace of houses in Lidgate Gardens.
The back door of number 26 had been kicked in by police and the doorframe was hanging off.
3.16pm - Everyone at Shannon's school, Westmoor Junior School, was celebrating news of her discovery.
Head teacher, Krystyna Piatkowski, told the YEP: "Myself, the staff, the pupils and everyone at the school are delighted and relieved that Shannon has been found."
3.14pm - Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann, said they were "delighted" that Shannon had been found alive and said the news gave them hope.
Their spokesman, Clarence Mitchell, said: "Kate and Gerry are aware that she has been found alive. They feel that is excellent news, they are delighted that she is alive.
"They will not comment more until they know the full circumstances. Suffice to say that they will keep on looking until they have a happy resolution in Madeleine's case.
"It proves that children can go missing for whatever reason and still be found alive.
"Until Kate and Gerry know what has happened to Madeleine, there will always be hope for them that she too will be found alive.
"They will keep on looking as long as there is hope."
3.12pm - One local resident says: "She looked OK, there didn't seem to be any physical marks on her.
"You could tell she was scared, though, there was something in her face.
"The police put her in a car and drove her away.
"About five minutes later the cops dragged a man out and put him in a van."
3.11pm - A statement from West Yorkshire Police reads: "As part of ongoing investigations, Detectives and Specialist Search officers attended a house at Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, Dewsbury at 12.30pm this afternoon.
"During a search of the house, officers located Shannon Matthews who was found concealed in the base of a divan bed.
"A 39 year old man was arrested on suspicion of abduction at the address and is currently in custody at a West Yorkshire Police Station.
"Shannon is currently in the care of West Yorkshire Police.
"Investigations are ongoing."
3.09pm - A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of abduction at the address in Lidgate Gardens, the force said.
3.08pm - Missing nine-year-old Shannon Matthews was found in the base of a divan bed in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire police said today.
2.55pm - A neighbour said rumours in the street suggested that the man who occupied the flat where Shannon was found lived alone and had children who had been taken into care.
She said: "We haven't seen him for two or three years. But apparently he's come back."
The woman who lives downstairs from him tipped off police after hearing footsteps, she said.
The neighbour did not know whether police arrested the man.
2.52pm - Police smashed their way into a flat in Lidgate Gardens in Batley Carr and emerged carrying Shannon, neighbours said.
The young girl looked "quite calm" and officers confirmed that she was OK.
A local resident, who did not want to give her name, said: "One of my neighbours heard banging.
"When he went outside, police were breaking the door down - the man wouldn't come out so they broke in.
"Apparently they found her in bed. He said she was quite calm. Police carried her out.
"My neighbour asked, 'is it Shannon?" and the policeman just said, 'yes' and said she was OK."
2.50pm - Relative Victoria Saunders confirmed the good news to reporters.
2.48pm - Shannon's aunt Amanda Hyett said: "We've all heard the news. It is great news. I've just heard the news like everyone else. I'm just trying to check if it's right."
2.45pm - Police officially confirmed that a man had been arrested in connection with the discovery of Shannon.
2.43pm - Reports Shannon found hiding under the bed at her grandparents' home.
2.03pm - Police confirm missing Shannon Matthews has been found safe and well. Unofficial reports suggested the nine-year-old had been found at a house believed to be in the neighbouring town of Batley Carr.
A local residents tells the YEP: "I have just seen Shannon being taken out of a house in Batley Carr. She is safe and well."
SHANNON FOUND: Click here for a timeline of events leading her up to her being found.
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Weather for Leeds
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
