Diggers used in search for April’s body

Police are using heavy digging equipment in the continuing search for April Jones as locals vow to step up attempts to locate the body of the missing five-year-old.

The equipment was being used in and around Ceinws after experts advised there was now a zero percent chance of finding her alive.

Police were waiting before using diggers until forensic teams had finished their fingertip searches of ground for potential clues. Now some of that work has been completed, they have decided to start dredging up earth.

The 60 sq km search area, containing rivers, cliffs and steep wooded terrain, represents the most difficult challenge possible for a search in Britain.

Superintendent Ian John said they are still hopeful of locating the body.

“We still have quite a lot of areas to search where we believe we still have a realistic prospect of locating her.”

He said April’s family had been “incredibly resilient”.

“I can only imagine they are desperately trying to hang on to some hope. Until we can find a body they are always going to hope that we are wrong.”

April disappeared while out playing with friends on the Bryn-y-Gog estate in Machynlleth in mid Wales, on Oct 1.

Mark Bridger, 46, a former lifeguard and abattoir worker, has been charged with April’s murder.

Meanwhile Sky News is reporting that April could have been swept over 100km down river, echoing a tragic case 60 years ago when Beryl Jones, 8, fell into the river Dyfi in Machynlleth.

Her body was washed up nine days later on the northern side of Cardigan Bay.

Searches for April have focused around the same river, while coast guards have been looking to the north and south of where the river opens into the sea.

Jo Holt, who knows April’s family, told Sky: “We’re just not going to give up hope. We can’t.”