More time to quiz Shannon suspect

Mike Donovan leaving court (credit Ross Parry/Halifax Courier)

Detectives investigating the alleged abduction of nine-year-old Shannon Matthews have been given more time to question a man about her disappearance.

Shannon was found in a flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, three weeks after she disappeared on her way home from her primary school in Dewsbury.

Michael Donovan, the uncle of Shannon's stepfather, was arrested on Friday.

Calderdale magistrates in Halifax have given police a further 24 hours to quiz the 39-year-old.

Shannon is currently in the care of social services.

Community meeting

Over the weekend officers in West Yorkshire defended the length of time it took to rescue the missing schoolgirl.

Ch Supt Barry South said if police had known where Shannon was they "would have been there in seconds".

West Yorkshire Police held a community meeting on Sunday evening to dispel rumours in Dewsbury about their 24-day search for Shannon, who was found less a mile from her home.