Police probe possible sighting of missing girl

(REUTERS/West Yorkshire Police)

Police searching for missing nine-year-old Shannon Matthews said today they were treating a possible sighting of her near her home as "significant".

Detective Superintendent Andy Brennan told a press conference an adult claims to have seen the youngster some time between 9.15am and 9.30am yesterday, a few streets away from her home in Moorside Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.

The officer said the last confirmed sighting of Shannon remains at 3.10pm outside her school on Tuesday afternoon.

Asked if it was a "significant" sighting, Mr Brennan said it was and added: "It was a witness who said he saw Shannon at that time.

"It was an adult who was convinced it was Shannon."

He said the sighting was on Moorcroft Road and she was walking towards School Lane.

The senior officer said the sighting was one of a number his team of 60 detectives were investigating.

He said the others included one on the playing fields behind her school on Church Lane some time between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Tuesday and another in a park at the junction of Staincliffe Road and Heckmondwike Road.