'April will forever be in our hearts': Murder victim's mother Coral Jones welcomes murder sentencing of Mark Bridger

Coral Jones outside Mold Crown Court after Mark Bridger was given a whole life sentence (PA)

The parents of April Jones said they were relieved by the jury's verdict finding Mark Bridger guilty of their daughter's murder.

In a statement, April's mother Coral Jones said: "We are relieved that Mark Bridger has today been found guilty of the murder of our beautiful daughter April, however we still do not know where she is, and this will always be a very painful thing for us to deal with.

"April will be forever in our hearts and we are so moved by the overwhelming support we have had from so many people all over the world.

"Paul and I would like to thank Dyfed Powys Police for the support they have given us, the investigation team, the search teams from all over the UK and our family liaison officers.

"We would like to thank our family and friends and the community of Machynlleth, who without their support we do not know how we would have got through the last seven months since April was so cruelly taken from us.

"We would like to thank the media for the respectful way in which they have reported April's story and would like to take time now to be with our family and to try and come to terms with the loss of April."

Mrs Jones, who with her husband Paul was wearing a pink ribbon which has come to symbolise the search for April, fought back tears as she read from the statement.

Former slaughterhouse worker Bridger, 46, will now spend the rest of his life behind bars after being handed a full-life prison term.

Further reading:

Profile: Mark Bridger was an alcoholic paedophile who lived out sexual fantasies on the internet

Mark Bridger watched brutal rape film before April Jones murder

Bridger's cottage should 'no longer exist', say parents of murder victim April Jones

April had a 'tantrum' so she could play out with friends on the night of her abduction

The search for April Jones in numbers

Psychologist: 'Mark Bridger could take years to reveal what happened to April Jones'

Search for April Jones' remains will continue if Mark Bridger gives up information