Prime Minister pays tribute to Machynlleth community

April Jones disappeared from her hometown of Machynlleth on 1st October 2012 Credit: Family photograph

Prime Minister David Cameron has paid tribute to the community of Machynlleth for their efforts in the search for missing 5 year-old April Jones.

The tribute by Mr Cameron, in the House of Commons following a question from Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies, said the whole country has been "incredibly impressed" by the response of the local community.

Thousands of local people joined the search to try and find the missing school girl after she disappeared from the Bryn-y-Gog estate in Machynlleth on 1st October 2012.

April, who has cerebral palsy, was playing out on her bicycle as a treat for a good school report when she vanished.

46-year-old Mark Bridger is being held in custody accused of the abduction and murder of the 5 year-old.

He also faces a charge of perverting the course of justice and will appear at Caernarfon Crown Court in January.

At a press conference today Dyfed Powys Police insist they will continue to deploy around 150 officers to carry on searching for the missing 5 year-old.