The family of missing Shannon Matthews are celebrating the discovery of the schoolgirl, 24 days after she vanished while walking home from a swimming lesson.
- Police find Shannon Matthews under a bed
- The suspect, a man who lost his children
- Other missing children later found alive
The nine-year-old was found in a house a mile from her home in Dewsbury, West Yorks, after police battered their way into a first-floor flat.
Paul Drake, 39, an uncle of Shannon's stepfather Craig Meehan, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of abduction.
Police are now likely to face tough questions over why it took them so long to visit the home of a close relative who lives so near to Shannon.
At around 1pm yesterday a police team broke into the flat where they found Shannon hidden in a drawer space under a divan bed. Her suspected abductor was allegedly in the other half of the bed's base and was led away in handcuffs.
Shannon was said to be in good health but she will remain in police protection while specialist officers interview her to find out exactly where she has been and what she has been through during the course of her alleged kidnapping.
The raid on the flat in Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, brought to an end one of the biggest missing persons inquiries in British history.
Last night, the charity Missing People said it had recently passed on a tip-off to police that Shannon might be there.
Shannon's father, Leon Rose, 29, said the news that his daughter had been found safe was "like winning the lottery", while her mother Karen, 32, was said to be "in shock" after being allowed to spend time with her daughter at a police station.
Shannon had last been seen at 3.10pm on Feb 19 as she waved goodbye to friends after the swimming lesson at school.
Within an hour of her being found a police car arrived at the home of Karen Matthews to take her to be reunited with her daughter.
Shannon's aunt Amanda Hyett said last night: "We've all heard the news. It is great."
Shannon's natural father Mr Rose said he was "over the moon", while her uncle Neil Hyett, who also lives next door, said: "It has just not sunk in.
''I am just so ecstatic. It was me who telephoned her dad Leon about it. He was like me.
''He was nearly crying. I have been saving a bottle just for this occasion.
''Now I can drink it. I can't tell you how great this news is."
Vicki Saunders, 28, Shannon's mother's cousin, added: "I am on such a high. It is just beyond my wildest dreams.
"It is so unbelievable. I had lost hope we would ever see her alive.
''I honestly thought she was dead. It has been so long. She is alive. She is coming home."
West Yorkshire Police said Shannon had been made the subject of an emergency protection order.
A spokesman said the order "will remain in place until we have had time to establish the full facts of what happened in the time since her disappearance".
After having medical checks, Shannon was expected to be interviewed by police today.
The news that Shannon had been found alive sparked wild celebrations in her street.
Dozens of relatives and friends showered each other with champagne and joyously ripped down "missing" posters which they replaced with a "welcome home" banner.
Children had paper fights with hundreds of missing persons posters, and one family friend said: "It is what we have all hoped for but thought would never happen.
"She is coming home and she is all right.
"There is going to be one hell of a party to celebrate."
