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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Shannon 'starts road to recovery' | Shannon 'starts road to recovery' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Nine-year-old Shannon Matthews, who was rescued after going missing for three weeks, is "starting on the road to recovery", police have said. | Nine-year-old Shannon Matthews, who was rescued after going missing for three weeks, is "starting on the road to recovery", police have said. |
| She spent "a comfortable and settled night" watching films and playing with a kitten after being rescued from a flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire. | She spent "a comfortable and settled night" watching films and playing with a kitten after being rescued from a flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire. |
| Specially-trained officers are talking to Shannon, who is in social services care, to find out what happened to her. | Specially-trained officers are talking to Shannon, who is in social services care, to find out what happened to her. |
| Her stepfather's uncle has been arrested on suspicion of abduction. | Her stepfather's uncle has been arrested on suspicion of abduction. |
| The 39-year-old, said locally to use two names - Paul Drake and Mick Donovan - was taken to hospital for a precautionary check-up before being taken into police custody. | |
| He and Shannon were found by police in two concealed compartments under a divan bed on Friday afternoon. | |
| Map of where Shannon was found | Map of where Shannon was found |
| West Yorkshire Police said they would try to carefully establish what has happened since the schoolgirl went missing on 19 February, but they expected it to be a long process. | West Yorkshire Police said they would try to carefully establish what has happened since the schoolgirl went missing on 19 February, but they expected it to be a long process. |
| A force spokesman said: "Shannon remains under care of the police protection order. Her well-being and welfare continues to be the priority of West Yorkshire Police." | |
| Those in the community celebrating the girl's reappearance were hopeful that her parents would return home on Saturday after the pair spent the night in a hotel. | Those in the community celebrating the girl's reappearance were hopeful that her parents would return home on Saturday after the pair spent the night in a hotel. |
| Her 32-year-old mother and stepfather Craig Meehan, 22, looked tired and drawn as they left Dewsbury Police Station on Friday night. | Her 32-year-old mother and stepfather Craig Meehan, 22, looked tired and drawn as they left Dewsbury Police Station on Friday night. |
| Neighbours said Shannon's mother had been briefly reunited with her daughter. | Neighbours said Shannon's mother had been briefly reunited with her daughter. |
| Shannon Matthews had been missing for 24 days | Shannon Matthews had been missing for 24 days |
| Family friend Petra Jamieson, who lives a few doors down from their home on Moorside Road, said Mrs Matthews had told her they had stayed in a hotel. | Family friend Petra Jamieson, who lives a few doors down from their home on Moorside Road, said Mrs Matthews had told her they had stayed in a hotel. |
| "I'm looking after their three children as well as my own while they are away," she said. | "I'm looking after their three children as well as my own while they are away," she said. |
| "I hope that they'll be back today but we just don't know." | "I hope that they'll be back today but we just don't know." |
| Shannon's natural father, Leon Rose, is also understood to have spent time with her following her rescue. | Shannon's natural father, Leon Rose, is also understood to have spent time with her following her rescue. |
| Neighbours and friends in Dewsbury have campaigned to keep Shannon's disappearance in the spotlight. | Neighbours and friends in Dewsbury have campaigned to keep Shannon's disappearance in the spotlight. |
| On Friday night they celebrated her survival, apparently unhurt. | On Friday night they celebrated her survival, apparently unhurt. |
| Banners reading "Welcome back Shannon" and disco lights were set up outside the Matthews family home. | Banners reading "Welcome back Shannon" and disco lights were set up outside the Matthews family home. |
| The schoolgirl had last been seen leaving Westmoor Junior School in Dewsbury on 19 February. | The schoolgirl had last been seen leaving Westmoor Junior School in Dewsbury on 19 February. |
| She was found concealed in the bed in a flat in Lidgate Gardens, just a mile from her home in Dewsbury Moor. | She was found concealed in the bed in a flat in Lidgate Gardens, just a mile from her home in Dewsbury Moor. |
| More than 200 officers and 60 detectives have been involved in the search, which police said amounted to 10% of West Yorkshire Police's operational strength. | More than 200 officers and 60 detectives have been involved in the search, which police said amounted to 10% of West Yorkshire Police's operational strength. |
| The force said the operation was its biggest since the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper. | The force said the operation was its biggest since the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper. |
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