Search for missing girl on common

A search began on common land in Essex yesterday for Danielle Jones, the schoolgirl who disappeared a week ago after leaving home to catch a school bus.

The operation, near Thurrock, was taking place as a local man in his forties was being questioned by police. Yesterday detectives were granted a warrant for further detention, which was due to be reviewed this morning.

Blond-haired, blue-eyed Danielle, 15, from East Tilbury, was wearing her school uniform and had very little money on her when she went missing at 8am last Monday.

Police have been unable to trace a blue Transit-style van that a girl matching Danielle's description was seen getting into a few hundred yards from her home near the time she went missing.

Yesterday Danielle's parents, Linda, 41, and Tony, 40, appealed for help in tracing their daughter. Mrs Jones said: "She is a typical 15-year-old girl with a normal teenager's worries. We are devastated. I am so desperate to get her back. There is no reason why she would run away."