Police questioning Mark Bridger, arrested on suspicion of the murder of April Jones, have been given a further 24 hours to quiz him.

Bridger, 46, was originally arrested on suspicion of child abduction the day after April's disappearance on 1 October but police confirmed that he is now under arrest on suspicion of murder and had been given another day to question him.

Police confirmed that the five-year-old girl had not been found and that the extensive search for her would continue.

At a press conference, Supt Ian Jones said he had been overwhelmed by the continuing public support in the hunt for April.

It also emerged that Bridger had attended a school parents' evening with April's mum and dad in the hours before she disappeared.

Bridger has two daughters who attend Ysgol Gynradd Machynlleth along with April. His attendance was confirmed by a Powys County Council spokesman.

April was last seen willingly getting into what witnesses said was a Land Rover Discovery on the Bryn-y-Gog estate where she lives.

DS Reg Bevan said: "The arrest does not detract from our efforts to find April and we remain committed to finding her."