Timeline of the April Jones abduction

Monday 1 October just before 7pm
April Jones, her sister and their mother, Coral, arrive home from the girls’ school, Coral goes into the house to make tea

Monday 1 October 7pm
April Jones last seen getting into a light-coloured grey van at her home in Machynlleth

Monday 1 October
Alarm raised immediately and Dyfed-Powys police launch a search. They are joined by hundreds of volunteers, search continues through the night

Tuesday 2 October 9am
Search for April resumes

Tuesday 2 October 10am
Police release photographs of the missing five year old and announce they have called in two helicopters to help with the search

Tuesday 2 October 12pm
Police say that April may have got into the driver’s side of the van she was last seen with and done so willingly

Tuesday 2 October 2.15-2.30pm
Search volunteers tell Channel 4 News they have seen a man, answering the description of the man wanted in connection with April’s disappearance, walking along the banks of the River Dyfi near the Millennium Bridge

Tuesday 2 October 3.30pm
Man arrested walking along the A487 outside Machynlleth

Tuesday 2 October 4.45pm
Police announce they have arrested a 46-year old local man in connection with April’s disappearance. They have also recovered his vehicle which is similar to the one April is reported to have got into

Wednesday 3 October 10am
Police name the man they have arrested on suspicion of child abduction as Mark Bridger and release a photo of his Land Rovery Discovery

Wednesday 3 October 12pm
April’s mother Coral makes her first public appearance pleading for help in finding her daughter

Wednesday 3 October 5.30pm
Police say they have interviewed Mark Bridger twice

Wednesay 3 October 7pm
Channel 4 News airs footage of a man answering Mark Bridger’s description, walking along the banks of the River Dyfi

Thursday 4 October 11am
Police reveal they have been granted a further 36 hours to question Mark Bridger. They appeal for anyone who saw him, spoke to him or had contact via social media between 6.30pm on Monday and 3.30pm on Tuesday to contact them. There is still no sign of April Jones

Thursday 4 October 2.30pm
Channel 4 News’ Home Affairs Correspondent Andy Davies says police activity has “noticebly increased” in the valleys surrounding the village of Ceinws where Mark Bridger is believed to be living

Friday 5 October 10.30am
Mark Bridger arrested on suspicion of the murder of April Jones