Shannon police issue new picture

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Police have issued a new photograph of missing schoolgirl Shannon Matthews, as the search for her continues.

The photograph was taken last September at Westmoor Junior School in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, where nine-year-old Shannon is a pupil.

She was last seen leaving the school on 19 February.

West Yorkshire Police said Shannon's mother Karen had agreed to the photo's release in the hope that it would help the inquiry into her disappearance.

A huge search by police officers has failed to find any trace of her.

Do you have a family member, partner, close associate or neighbour who appears to have been behaving out of the ordinary? Det Supt Andy Brennan

Det Supt Andy Brennan said: "We want people to think back to the afternoon of Tuesday, 19 February when Shannon was last seen.

"Were you picking up your own children from school that afternoon or were you travelling in and around Church Lane close to Heckmondwike Road?

"Did you see Shannon? Please get in touch with us if you did."

Mr Brennan said police also wanted to speak to people who may have seen someone acting suspiciously near the school.

"Finally, can you cast your mind back to the days that followed the news of Shannon's disappearance," he said.

"Do you have a family member, partner, close associate or neighbour who appears to have been behaving out of the ordinary or who you now think was acting unusually in any way at all?"

More than 200 officers and 60 detectives are involved in the investigation, which Mr Brennan has said amounts to 10% of West Yorkshire Police's operational strength.

Sniffer dogs have been used to search more than 500 homes in Dewsbury and detectives have also questioned known sex offenders in the area.