Shannon Matthews, 9

The child, who is said to be quiet, shy and timid had told school friends that she was considering running away in the days before she disappeared.

Her natural father Leon Rose lived 10 miles away, but it has been reported that she saw her mother’s partner Craig Meehan as her father.

Shannon’s brothers and sisters

Tony, 11, Shannon, nine, Cameron, five, and Courtney, two, all live with her. Her three other siblings Ian, 10, Kelly, six and Daniel, seven, live with their respective fathers.

Karen Matthews, 32

Shannon’s mother has seven children by five different fathers, four of them live with her and her partner Craig Meehan in Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury.

Mrs Matthews said this week that she thought somebody that knew her may have taken Shannon in order to hurt her.

She said: "I think somebody out there who knows Shannon and who probably knows me as well. It makes me think I can't trust people who are really close to me any more."

Craig Meehan, 22

It has been reported that Shannon was found in the flat of one of Mr Meehan’s relatives.

The supermarket fishmonger lived with Karen Matthews on Moorside Road he had denied suggestions by her parents and brother that he had ever hit Shannon.

Mr Meehan said that he had taken no notice of the fingers being pointed towards him and insisted that police activity surrounding the family was routine.

Karen Matthews vehemently defended her partner in a GMTV interview and her support was backed up by Leon Rose, Shannon’s natural father.

Mr Rose said: "I've always thought he was a decent guy. . . It was obvious [Shannon] looked up to him. If she's got time for him then so have I."

Leon Rose, 29

Shannon’s father is separated from Karen Matthews. He is unemployed and lives with his partner Tracey Matthews, 35, in the countryside outside Huddersfield 10 miles from Shannon’s Dewsbury home.

Gordon, 66 and June, 64, Matthews

Karen Matthews' parents raised Shannon for the first few months of her life. June called the schoolgirl “my little Miss Smiley-Face”.

Shannon's grandparents alleged in a Sunday newspaper interview that Craig Meehan had hit the children and that Shannon was scared of him.

Martin Matthews, 42

Karen’s Matthew’s brother lives round the corner from Shannon and her family in Dewsbury. Shannon regularly visited him and she was friends with his daughter Tyler, 10.

He claimed Shannon had not wanted to return home because she had fallen out with Mr Meehan, who had grounded her.

Mr Matthews said: "She's been around here on many occasions saying the same thing: crying, saying she doesn't want to go home, saying 'I hate living there'. She's showed me bruises on her arms and said Craig had lashed out at her. He does lash out."

Neil Hyett, 35 and Amanda Hyett, 25

Amanda Hyett is Craig Meehan's sister, the couple live next door to Karen Matthews and her family on Moorside Road. During the hunt for Shannon police searched their home and garden.

Mrs Hyett said today: "I can't believe it - what an incredible relief."

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