Statement from Superintendent Ian John:

I want to give you an update of the activity in the search for April Jones.
Police searches have continued in and around Machynlleth and will continue
tonight, regardless of the weather. 

We are utilising eight specialist police search teams from across the force
and other forces, led by five specialist police search advisers, with the
support of the national police searched centre. 

These teams are supported by a number of police dogs, helicopters and the
Marine unit, and other specialist teams. In addition to the police search teams,
the mountain rescue teams continued to support the operation, using over 100
skilled people. 

We are having to search through difficult terrain in urban and rural
environments, in demanding weather conditions we have experienced. The forecast
for tonight is not good but we will continue this.

This is why it was critical to get people with the skills and experience to
work in this hostile environment. Also we have large numbers of volunteers and
they are continuing to support us.

We have been working with them to co-ordinate their efforts from here at the
leisure centre and across the area. I have gone over and met some of them and
thank them for their support in this difficult operation - thanked them. 

We have obtained details from over 400 volunteers following our appeal this
morning to complete questionnaires and we have established their knowledge of
their own particular areas, their specialist skills that they can bring to the
operation, and details on maps, about where they live, to help us with our
ongoing planning. 

In addition to the search teams, we have had great support from the coastguard
and the RNLI, who have supported searches along the Dyfi river and the coastal
areas. We have had support from the public, not just this community, but I'm
sure you'll have bumped into people from all over the UK. It is quite a humbling
experience. 

All of these resources are focused on finding April, or any information that
will assist this ongoing investigation. We have been overwhelmed with the
support and that has stretched from local businesses and the public, from here,
and far and wide who have turned up with refreshments to support the volunteers.
I want to give my personal appreciation to that, and the great support that it
has given to the people here. 

Following the appeals for information we have made, we have received over 2500
calls from the public. I want to focus on that, over 2500 calls. They all have
to be answered, and that is being done by all 44 police forces across the
country who have worked together to support the child alert line. 

This information is to be analysed and I'm sure you can imagine the operation
that is going on in and around the area to process that information and make
sure that everything is being given the right priority and is followed up. 

And finally come as I think is appropriate, I want to turn to April
appropriate, I want to turn to April's family. I'm sure we are all feeling for
them at this terrible time. Also the friends and extended family.

[Total 02:57]