Chief Inspector Tim Jacobs: "She could resemble a bundle of rags - please investigate everything"

Specially-trained officers put up the tent yards from the front door of the house in Lewis Avenue, in the Dallam area of Warrington, Cheshire.

The road was sealed off in mid-morning, as officers resumed house-to-house inquiries in the search for Charlotte Jones.

Forensic experts have taken away an Astra car parked near the home

Shortly after noon a police recovery vehicle arrived to remove a black Astra car.

Just over an hour later, officers wearing white paper clothing entered the house.

Charlotte was last seen at 1715 on Monday in the front garden near where police are now searching.

Police officers from Cheshire, North Wales and Merseyside have been drafted in to help in the hunt for Charlotte Jones.

Charlotte is thought to have wandered away from the front garden of her home

But Chief Inspector Tim Jacobs said that Charlotte was likely to be "exceptionally distressed" after a night in the open.

Charlotte's distraught mother Michelle Jones said her daughter would not go off alone with strangers.

"Charlotte is a happy little girl who is at ease with people she knows," she said.

"She would not naturally speak to people she doesn't know. She happily left the front door to say goodbye to a friend."

Police, aided by volunteers from the local community - 25 of whom were given time off from a local factory to take part in the search - have been scouring the area.

Police divers are searching a nearby canal

Divers have been searching Dallam Brook canal, which runs close to the back of the child's house, while dog teams have been drafted in from north Wales and Greater Manchester.

The Merseyside Police helicopter is combing the area with infra-red, search lights and thermal imaging equipment.

Chief Inspector Jacobs said that police also hoped to speak to the girl's father, who does not live with the family.

"Obviously we would like to get into contact with him, for no other reason than to tell him his daughter is missing," he said.

Charlotte was last seen wearing a purple bubble jacket, Winnie the Pooh jumper and white leggings with a Dalmatian pattern on them.

She is 3ft to 4ft tall and has hip-length blond hair which is tied back in a pony tail.

A police spokeswoman said: "Obviously there is a great deal of concern for her and we are appealing to anyone who has seen her or has any information about where she might be to contact police.

"We would appeal for people in the local area to search garden sheds, coal bunkers, wheelie bins, wendy houses, kennels or anything outdoors that a little child could use to sleep in.

"At that age and after being missing this long all a child usually does is find shelter, curl up and go to sleep," he said.