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Mark Bridger charged with murder of five-year-old April Jones

Police this afternoon charged Mark Bridger with the murder of five-year-old April Jones.

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During a press conference shortly before 4pm, Dyfed-Powys Police said the 46-year-old had also been charged with child abduction and perverting the course of justice.

April was last seen getting into a vehicle at around 7pm on Monday near her home on the Bryn-y-Gog estate in Machynlleth.

At the press conference Iwan Jenkins, District Crown Prosecutor from Crown Prosecution Service Cymru-Wales, said: "The Crown Prosecution Service has been in close contact with Dyfed Powys Police as their extensive investigation into April's disappearance has developed. In particular, we have been offering advice and guidance to the police since the suspect Mark Bridger was arrested last Tuesday.

"My role is to examine the evidence that is currently available and advise the police in respect of charges.

"I now have to advise that, having carried out a detailed review of the evidence gathered so far by Dyfed Powys Police, my conclusion is that there is sufficient evidence to charge Mark Bridger with the murder of April Jones, and that it is in the public interest to do so.

"I have also concluded that there is sufficient evidence to charge the defendant with attempting to pervert the course of justice and child abduction."

Bridger is due to appear before magistrates in Aberystwyth on Monday.

Meanwhile, the search for April continues. Teams of experts including mountain rescuers, coastguards and police with sniffer dogs have been drafted in to help locate the youngster.

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