Confirmed: Missing Girl in Machynlleth

There are reports online this evening of a five year old girl is missing from Bryn y Gog, Machynlleth. Although Machynlleth is obviously quite far away from Wrexham the nature of the reports has prompted us to write about it and raise awareness.

Aside from social network based reports we have so far been unable to confirm or verify any details.

There have been doubts to the reality of the missing child on social media tonight, however as below, the BBC have confirmed that the police are appealing for witnesses in this incident and it is genuine.

The girl, called April Jones was apparently last seen being around a ‘white van’ around 7pm this evening. The picture being circulated is above.

Claire Williams told us “At approx 7pm tonight 5 year old April Jones got into a white/cream/grey car in the Bryn y gog area of Machynlleth. She was with some friends of her age hence the colour confusion she hasn’t been seen since we have no registration plate or sightings at the moment”.

Sara Howdle, who says she is the childs godmother said “Call Machynlleth police if you know anything, huge police search in progress.”

Several @wrexham followers on Twitter alerted us to this, including a retweet by North Wales Assembly Member Aled Roberts (@AledRobertsAM) from Rhos.

Update: 21:53 @ITVWales are now reporting on ITV.com “There are reports tonight that a five year old girl has gone missing in Machynlleth in mid Wales this evening. Local reports suggest Police are stopping motorists in the area in a bid to find the child who went missing at about half past seven this evening.”

Update 22:16: We have a query in with Dyfed Powys Police, however the BBC are now reporting “Police in mid Wales are appealing for witnesses after a five-year-old child went missing in Machynlleth. Full details of the incident on Monday evening have yet to be revealed. Anyone with more information is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police“. Source: BBC News

Update 22:38:Dyfed Powys Police have just said “We are increasingly concerned for a missing 5yr old, April, who was last seen playing on her bike in Mach at about 19:30hrs April was seen getting into a light coloured van that drove off. If anyone has any information please call 101.”

URGENT – volunteers required in Machynlleth area please.
We need volunteers to search for a five year old girl who went missing at seven thirty last night (1st October).
Please go to the Leisure Centre at Machynlleth and speak to the co-ordinators in the Sports Hall.

The Police are asking that all people use their own networks, including social media, to get this message out.

April Jones is 5. She was last seen in Mid Wales at 19:30 on October 1st 2012. She was seen getting into a light coloured van. Any information please call 101 and quote April Jones. She is wearing a padded purple jacket and the same school uniform as in the profile picture here. Any information the police are asking people to dial 101 and speak to Dyfed Powys Police quoting April Jones.
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