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Your support makes all the difference.Police were today searching for a nine-year-old girl who has been missing from her home since yesterday evening.
Shannon Matthews, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, failed to return home from school and was last seen on playing fields at around 7.30pm.
West Yorkshire Police launched a search of the surrounding area for Shannon, who they said had never been missing before.
Shannon is believed to have stayed at West Moor Junior School for extra activities.
A force spokesman said officers had made inquiries throughout the night and had also made checks through friends and family.
Today, police were continuing to liaise with the family and were checking the route which she may have taken on her way to her home in Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor.
The spokesman said: "Officers are concerned for her welfare after she failed to return home from school. Shannon has never been missing before."
Shannon is described as white, around 4ft 1in and of slim build, with shoulder length, medium-brown coloured hair, which was possibly tied up in a ponytail. She has blue eyes and freckles.
She was wearing a black school jumper with a school logo on it, a white cotton T-shirt, black trousers and a black, waist-length coat with fur round the hood. She was also wearing pink and grey "Bratz" furry boots.
Anyone with information is asked to contact West Yorkshire Police on 01274 373737 or text 07786 200806.
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