3 Oct 2012

Mark Bridger sighted as police searched for April Jones

Minutes after Mark Bridger was spotted by searchers along a river bank, a Channel 4 News team filmed a man matching his description walking in the area.

Mark Bridger sighted as police searched for April Jones.

The image, taken from Channel 4 News video footage (below), shows a man walking beside the river at approximately 2.30pm on Tuesday as police scoured the area for missing five-year-old April Jones.

Mark Bridger, 46, was arrested at 3.30pm later the same day.

The police said Mr Bridger was found on the outskirts of the Welsh town of Machynlleth near the Dyfi bridge. He was wearing a camouflage jacket and trousers with black overtrousers.

A man among a group of eight to 10 volunteers told Channel 4 News the person they saw earlier wore similar clothing and matched the police description.

It is understood Mr Bridger asked one of the searchers if they had seen or heard any news in the hunt for April.

Another local person, who knows Mark Bridger, and has seen the video, believes it is him. Police have examined the footage.

April Jones vanished from outside her home, in the Brynygog estate in Machynlleth, on the evening of Monday 1 October.