Detectives probe Shannon's missing 24 days

Detectives in England are tonight trying to unravel the mystery of what happened to Shannon Matthews between her disappearance 24 days ago and her dramatic rescue.

Police smashed their way into a flat about a mile from the nine-year-old’s home in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, and found her hidden in the base of a bed.

They arrested a 39-year-old man on suspicion of the schoolgirl’s abduction at the property in Lidgate Gardens, in the Batley Carr area of Dewsbury.

He was named by sources as Mick Donovan, formerly known as Paul Drake, and is understood to be a member of Shannon’s extended family.

The youngster has yet to be reunited with her mother, Karen Matthews, who was said to be “in shock” after learning her daughter was alive and well.

Shannon was made subject to an Emergency Police Protection Order tonight.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Shannon Matthews has been away from home for almost four weeks.

“As part of our ongoing inquiries, and following medical checks, West Yorkshire Police will begin the process of interviewing Shannon.

“This may be a long process but throughout this inquiry our main focus has been and continues to be Shannon’s welfare.

“We have therefore taken the decision that, for now, it is in Shannon’s best interests that she be made subject of an Emergency Police Protection Order.

“This will remain in place until we have had time to establish the full facts of what happened in the time since her disappearance.”

Shannon disappeared after leaving Westmoor Junior School on February 19 following a swimming trip.

West Yorkshire Police reportedly went to the flat where the “timid” schoolgirl was found after receiving tip-offs from a neighbour and the charity Missing People.

Neighbours said Mr Donovan had lived in the flat for three or four years and “kept himself to himself”.

Christopher Heaps came out of his home at number 4 Lidgate Gardens just after midday after hearing banging and saw police smash the door of the flat down.

“About five minutes after that a policeman came out with a girl under his arms,” he said.

“I just said to the policeman ’Is that Shannon?’ and he said ’Yeah, this is Shannon’.”

Mr Heaps said a woman in the downstairs flat raised the alarm.

“She said that she heard a child’s footsteps above and she knew that he hadn’t got any children (in the flat). I think she called the police and they took it from there then,” he said.

A huge celebration took place outside Shannon’s home tonight.

Scores of neighbours gathered in Moorside Road, setting up disco lights, letting off fireworks and cracking open bottles.

A huge banner saying “Welcome back, Shannon” was draped across the street as the crowd tore up the leaflets they had printed appealing for help to find the youngster.

Children chanted Shannon’s name and at the centre of the party, Shannon’s uncle, Neil Hyett, said he was “totally over the moon”.

He said: “I can’t believe it. I always knew she was coming home anyway. I can’t wait to get her in my arms and give her a cuddle.”

Mr Hyett said that he telephoned Shannon’s father, Leon Rose, as soon as he heard the news.

He told how they “cried together” while they were talking.

Earlier, Mr Rose, 29, said being reunited with his daughter would be like “winning the lottery”.

Youngsters enjoying the celebrations were told of Shannon’s reappearance this afternoon in a special school assembly.

Some locals were angry that rumours had linked Shannon’s stepfather, Craig Meehan, with the young girl’s disappearance.

The parents of missing Madeleine McCann were among the first to welcome the news that she had been found alive.