Missing Danielle 'made U-turn'

Crimewatch programme will show Danielle's last known movements

Missing schoolgirl Danielle Jones was spotted making a sudden about turn while walking to a bus stop on the morning she disappeared, according to police.

Danielle, 15, vanished after leaving her home in East Tilbury, Essex, to catch a school bus at 0800BST on 18 June.

But a police spokeswoman said on Wednesday that three schoolboys had seen her double back on herself and walk along a street called Hayle.

"The boys assumed she was going to a nearby shop," added the spokeswoman.

The boys assumed she was going to a nearby shop

Police spokeswoman

Essex Police have consulted missing persons experts in forces across the UK, including Sussex officers involved in the hunt for eight-year-old Sarah Payne, who was found murdered in July.

An Essex Police spokesman said the force had not dealt with a missing person's case on the scale of Danielle's disappearance in recent years.

Police have continued to search wasteland, stretches of water and quarries near Danielle's home in East Tilbury, he said.

Detectives, who say they are convinced that Danielle was abducted, have urged anyone who might have seen her getting into a vehicle or speaking to someone on the morning she vanished to come forward.

Land searches continue

Officers are investigating reports that a girl matching Danielle's description was seen getting into a blue Transit-type van in Coronation Avenue where she lives.

But Mr Coltman said officers had reasons to believe that might not have been Danielle.

Danielle is 5ft 7in, slim, with blue eyes and long blonde hair and a brace on her teeth.

A reconstruction of Danielle's last known movements will be filmed in her home village on Monday for an appeal for help trace her on BBC One's Crimewatch UK programme.

Crimewatch UK is due to be broadcast on Wednesday 18 July at 2100BST.