Mother pleads for daughter to return
Updated on 20 February 2008
The mother of a missing nine-year-old girl has made an emotional plea for her daughter's return.
Shannon Matthews from Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, failed to return home after school on Tuesday.
Around 200 officers from the West Yorkshire area are helping to search for the little girl.
Speaking outside her home Shannon's mother Karen said: "Shannon, you are a princess in every way, come home."
She said it was the first time her daughter had gone missing and reassured Shannon she was not in trouble.
She said:"Shannon, you are not in trouble, darling, please come home."
She added: "This is the first time Shannon you've done it, we don't know why baby, but we love you."
Mrs Matthews described her daughter as "loving, caring in every way possible, you could not wish for a better child."
She told the BBC: "I just want her home where she belongs with her family. If anyone's got Shannon please return her home safe."
Speaking about the effect her daughter's appearance had had on the family, Mrs Matthews said: "Me and her dad are missing her so much, her brother's going out of his mind, her little sister and brothers are going out of their minds. They just want their big sister home safe," she said.
"It's breaking everybody's heart just to see any news that's on the telly, everybody's getting upset about it.
Shannon's neighbourhood was busy with activity as residents joined in the search.
Posters with Shannon's picture were being distributed to passers-by and posted around the neighbourhood.
Shannon is described as white, around 4ft 1ins tall, with shoulder length, medium brown coloured hair that was possibly tied up in a ponytail. She is also of slim build with blue eyes and freckles.
She was wearing a black school jumper with a school logo on it, a white cotton T-shirt, black trousers and a black waist length coat with fur round the hood. She was also wearing pink and grey Bratz furry boots.
Anyone with information should contact officers on 01274 373737 or text 07786 200806. Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.
