Police quiz man over missing girl

Danielle Jones has been missing since Monday

Police are continuing to question a man in connection with the disappearance of schoolgirl Danielle Jones.

The 15-year-old went missing a week ago from East Tilbury, Essex, and detectives are still treating her disappearance as a missing person inquiry.

The man in his early 40s from Thurrock, south Essex, is being held on suspicion of abduction.

On Saturday, Danielle's parents made an emotional plea for her return.

For God's sake come home. I'm so desperate to get her back.

Linda Jones
Mother

Danielle's mother, Linda, begged for her daughter's safe return.

Speaking at Grays Police Station Mrs Jones, 40, said: "For God's sake come home. I'm so desperate to get her back.

Danielle was last seen by her family at 0800BST on Monday when she left home to catch the bus to school in Stanford-le-Hope.

Det Supt Peter Coltman, leading the hunt for teenager, said he was becoming increasingly concerned for Danielle's welfare.

"This is a missing person inquiry and I would love for her to make a phone call and bring this to a close," he said.

"But by the very nature of the circumstances we have to keep an open mind about what has happened.

I'm really concerned and everything extra I hear leads me to be more and more worried

Det Supt Peter Coltman

"I'm really concerned and everything extra I hear leads me to be more and more worried."

"She went to school perfectly happy ... there is no reason why she would have run away."

Both Danielle's parents stressed that their daughter was a "normal" girl who had not had any recent family arguments or problems at school.

Van 'sighting'

A girl matching Danielle's description was seen getting into a blue Transit-style van along part of her route to the bus stop.

Mrs Jones said her daughter had just returned from a school field trip to Somerset and would have been keen to get to school to talk about the trip.

She said: "Danielle is a typical 15-year-old girl who had no worries and I can't believe she hasn't made contact.

"She is just a normal happy girl."

Danielle went missing just wearing her blue school uniform with her school things, a packed lunch and very little money.

Danielle - who lives with her parents and younger brother - is 5ft 7in, slim, with blue eyes and long blonde hair and a brace on her teeth.