The search for missing April reaches day three, as detectives step up efforts to find the five-year-old April Jones who went missing near her home in Machynlleth, mid Wales, on Monday evening, with her parents making an emotional appeal for their lost child yesterday, as her godmother disclosed that April suffers from cerebral palsy for which she needs daily medication.

“This is the third day April is away from her home and she is only little. She needs medication for her health problems and without it she will be in pain”, Mair Raftree, April Jones’ godmother was quoted as saying to the Daily Mail, adding, “She has been in hospital a few times for her condition and with the cerebral palsy her legs just give way. I am so scared for her and I desperately want her home.”

Raftree also disclosed that April Jones suffers from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for which she had spent considerable amount time in hospitals and needs to take her regular dose of painkillers for the stomach disorder.

The Dyfed Powys Police revealed that they are targetting 20 specific sites in the search for the missing April Jones. Detective Superintendent Reg Bevan said officers had received more than 400 messages from the public since their earlier appeal.

It may be noted that police had taken in Mark Bridger for questioning on Tuesday, when he was arrested on the A487, two miles north of Machynlleth, at 3.30 pm. Over the additional 12 hours given to the police for interrogation, the 46-year-old Bridger has been interviewed twice and detectives are looking into his past to build up a profile.

Around 100 mountain rescue volunteers, 100 police-trained search officers, 20 dog handlers, two boats from the RNLI, a team of kayakers, and the force’s marine unit are taking part in the operation to find missing April Jones.

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April Jones missing case: Police continue search, parents make emotional appeal