Police worried about missing girl

Police are becoming more worried about nine-year-old Shannon Matthews, who has been missing for five days.

Shannon, from Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, went missing after leaving school to walk home on Tuesday.

Hundreds of officers are looking for her and police divers are searching a local pond.

Her neighbours gave out special leaflets with her photo on to fans at Leeds United's football stadium for Saturday's match with Crewe Alexandra.

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Shannon has been missing since Tuesday

Police released CCTV pictures of her taken at a school swimming trip shortly before she disappeared.

The last time she was seen was when she left Moorside Primary School on Tuesday to walk 400m home, which she normally did with friends - but set off on her own.

Police said she would also have been wearing a black school jumper, a white cotton T-shirt, black trousers and a black, waist-length coat with fur round the hood. She had black and pink Bratz boots on.

Gravely concerned

Det Supt Andy Brennan said police "remained gravely concerned" for Shannon's safety and appealed for anyone with information to contact West Yorkshire Police, or the Crimestoppers phoneline.

Running away Running away doesn't change your problems and can be dangerous and frightening Get help with your problems from the web, try any of the links on the right hand side of this page Call this free helpline 0808 800 7070 or email runawayhelpline@ missingpeople.org.uk

Some of Shannon's friends think she may have run away because she wanted to see her dad, who had split up from her mum a few years ago.

Her dad thinks she may have been trying to get to his home in nearby Huddersfield.

Police have described Shannon as white, around 4ft 1in and slim, with shoulder-length, medium-brown hair, which was possibly tied up in a ponytail. She has blue eyes and freckles.

If anyone has any information about Shannon, they should call the Runaway helpline which is free on 0808 800 7070.