Mark Bridger, 46, is charged with the murder and abduction of missing schoolgirl April Jones, five
April went missing on Monday evening after she was seen getting into a car near her home in the Welsh market town of Machynlleth
Bridger was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the youngster's disappearance, but was re-arrested yesterday on suspicion of April's murder
At a press conference her family thanked those who helped in the inquiry for their 'overwhelming' support
Despite a huge search from the community and police, the youngster has not been seen since Monday
Hundreds of people are expected to attend a church service in April's honour in Machynlleth tomorrow
Mark Bridger has been charged with the abduction and murder of missing five-year-old April Jones, police confirmed today.
A desperate search for the schoolgirl has been underway since she was last seen willingly getting into a large vehicle on Monday evening near her home in the Welsh market town of Machynlleth. She is yet to be found.
Announcing at a press conference that Bridger, 46, has been charged with murder, child abduction and perverting the course of justice, police said efforts to find April - who has cerebral palsy - would continue until officers 'have exhausted all available options'.
Bridger was arrested on Tuesday after the little girl, from the Bryn-y-Gog estate in Machynlleth, disappeared the previous night.
He had attended the same school parents’ evening as April’s mother and father hours before their daughter disappeared. Bridger has two children at the school.
Sources close to the Jones family said the couple had been given a ‘glowing report’ about their daughter’s progress. As as a treat, they had allowed her some extra play time outside when they returned home.
April has not been seen since, despite a near round-the-clock search by police and members of the local community who joined the effort to find the schoolgirl.
Bridger will appear before Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court on Monday morning, police said.
At a press conference in the town this afternoon, police paid tribute to the 'overwhelming' efforts of members of the public and emergency services, who have trawled the surrounding area to find clues about the little girl's disappearance.
Chief Constable Jackie Roberts, wearing a pink ribbon - a symbol of the search for the little girl - said: 'Our thoughts are very much with April’s family, friends and those who know her today.
'The last few days has seen us deal with one of the most complex and fast moving enquiries in the history of our Force and one our communities have never had to face before.
'It has been marked by the coming together of people from across the country with one aim in mind, to return April to her family.'
Describing how the community of Machynlleth and surrounding areas had turned out in force to support the search for the missing five-year-old, the police officer said the sight of so many people giving up their free time to help was 'truly humbling'.
'I would like to pay tribute to the tremendous effort that has gone into trying to find April Jones this week,' she said.
'I have spent time with the family, and they are overwhelmed with the number of people who wanted to help in any way they possibly could.
'The search teams have faced an enormous challenge with the hostile terrain, the adverse weather and the logistics of searching such a beautiful but remote landscape.
'People have worked around the clock to search for April, to investigate the crime and to keep her disappearance in the public eye.
'Now that Mark Bridger has been charged with this horrific crime it is time to let the judicial process take its course and time to let the family come to terms with what has happened over the last week.
'In the meantime our efforts to find April will be as meticulous as they have been from the outset of this inquiry until we have exhausted all available options.'
Superintendent Ian John said 10 specialist police teams were deployed earlier today in Machynlleth, as the intensive search operation continues.
'We remain totally focused and committed to finding April,' he said.
Iwan Jenkins, District Crown Prosecutor, Crown Prosecution Service Cymru-Wales said: '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.
'Accordingly, I have authorised Dyfed Powys Police to charge him with these offences and he will appear before Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court on Monday morning.'
Mr Jenkins said his thoughts were with the little girl's family and friends at this 'incredibly difficult' time.
He added: 'The huge public and media interest in this case is understandable. I would just like to stress that, whilst Mark Bridger stands accused of serious criminal charges, he retains the right to a fair trial.'
Emergency crews resumed looking for the youngster at first daylight this morning on the sixth day of the search.
Superintendent Ian John said the intensive search operation would continue in Machynlleth, with 10 specialist police teams deployed today to conduct a systematic and methodical search in and around the town.
'We continue to have the support of a whole range of search and rescue teams who are using specialist equipment as we continue our efforts,' he said.
'We will be keeping April’s family fully updated on progress of the investigation.
'Despite today’s announcement we are maintaining the momentum of the search and we remain totally focused and committed to finding April.'
Hundreds of people are expected to attend a church service being held in Machynlleth in April's honour tomorrow.
Neighbours from the Bryn-y-Gog estate also plan to lead a procession through the town in a show of solidarity and support for the missing girl and her family.
The service at St Peter's Church will be led by the Bishop of Bangor, the Right Reverend Andrew John, who said the congregation would be 'offering a prayer and hope and comfort' at a tragic time.
Investigators had erected a forensic tent outside Bridger's home yesterday as the hunt for April continued.
The 'sterile environment' was put in place outside the house in the village of Ceinws as officers continued their meticulous search for finger prints and clues that might give an indication to the whereabouts of the missing youngster.
A Dyfed Powys Police spokesman said the tent had been set up to officers would have somewhere to store items they wanted to take away to inspect, should they find any.
Bridger was questioned for three days over April's disappearance before he was dramatically re-arrested yesterday on suspicion of killing the little girl.
The development in the case was relayed to April's family shortly before an official announcement was made by the officer leading the investigation.
A 70-year-old man last night said he had seen the five-year-old playing with her friends on the Bryn-y-Gog estate on the night of her disappearance.
'They were riding their bikes up and down the street like they have been all summer,' he said.
'A driver kept cruising up and down the road where the kids were playing.
'I thought it was a little odd but nothing more and then I noticed it parked up next to the garages which was strange because no-one would park there usually. The kids were still playing at that point.
'But suddenly they weren't there and I noticed the car drive briskly down the road towards the town centre,' the man said.
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