Police issue CCTV of missing girl

Shannon has been missing since Tuesday afternoon

Police searching for a nine-year-old girl who has been missing for three days have released CCTV images of her on the day she disappeared.

The last confirmed sighting of Shannon Matthews, from Moorside Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, was when she left school on Tuesday.

The CCTV images show Shannon leaving Dewsbury Sports Centre, where she had been on a school swimming trip.

She was wearing a quilted jacket and distinctive pink Bratz boots.

She was also wearing a black school jumper, a white cotton T-shirt, black trousers and a black, waist-length coat with fur round the hood.

Police urged anyone who had seen Shannon since Tuesday to get in touch.

The nine-year-old has never gone missing before

The footage was released at a news conference at Dewsbury Police Station, during which Det Supt Andy Brennan confirmed that Shannon had written on her bedroom wall that she wanted to see more of her father.

But he said this was just part of an array of scribbles that the youngster had daubed on the wall.

The youngster had also expressed desires to leave home, Mr Brennan added.

"She had suggested to a number of friends that she didn't want to go home and we are investigating that as well," he said.

Community praised

Ch Supt Barry South also said police had not recovered any clothing or any items connected to Shannon.

"We will, and do, continue to recover items that we may feel are part and parcel of the search enquiry and investigation.

Shannon was wearing distinctive pink boots when she went missing

"But I need to stress at this moment in time that we have not recovered any clothing or any items that we believe are connected to Shannon."

Mr South also thanked the community in Dewsbury Moor for their help.

"I think it is fair to say that myself, Andy, and the rest of the team have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm, the energy and in particular the patience around Dewsbury Moor.

"They've made the job of the police far easier and definitely done their best to cooperate and assist in any way they can. We hope that will continue as the search continues to progress," he said.