When officers arrived at No 26 Lidgate Gardens shortly before midday yesterday, it was initially just another door-knock in their painstaking search for Shannon Matthews.

The resident, the uncle of Shannon’s stepfather, and part of the door-to-door trawl of anyone who might be known to the girl, appeared not to be at home.

They tried a downstairs flat, where a conversation with a neighbour provided the sudden breakthrough for which the Matthews family, their friends and the police force had been praying for three weeks.

Although Paul Drake, the resident, lived alone in the property in Batley Carr, the sound of a child’s footsteps had been heard lately.

Officers were told that Mr Drake, also known as Mick Donovan, never left the premises without his car, about which he was obsessive. They were led to believe that Mr Drake was still in the flat because his prized silver Peugot was parked in the street outside.

The two police officers decided that they were dealing with more than a routine visit. Keeping an observation on the property, the officers called for an emergency back-up team. A battering ram was used to break down the door and officers burst into the house.

They immediately searched from room to room, and after hearing noises, uncovered Shannon, hidden within the base of a double divan bed. Alongside Shannon, in the other half of the cavity, was Mr Drake. The 24-day search was over.

Neighbours described how Shannon appeared calm as she was carried from the scene, with no apparent sign of injury. Then Paul Drake emerged, dragged out in handcuffs to awaiting back-up officers and a volley of pent-up anger from local residents.

As word got out into the community, Karen Matthews, Shannon’s mother, was told of her daughter’s safe recovery by a neighbour, Peter Brown, a short time after.

“She just froze. She was in shock. Then her reaction was crying,” said Mr Brown. “After that, she had a phone call from the police liaison officer. They came to pick her up. Karen and Craig [Shannon's stepfather] both left the house together. We are going to have a party tonight.”

Shannon disappeared 24 days ago after returning to Westmoor Primary School in Dewsbury from a swimming trip. It led to one of the largest investigations mounted by the West Yorkshire force, involving up to 300 detectives, more than a tenth of the force’s strength.

Amanda Hyett, Shannon’s aunt, sobbed as she said: “I am so pleased she has been found. We just need her home now. I just want to say thank you to everyone that helped.”

Ms Hyett was with Shannon’s mother and stepfather when the news came through that the girl had been found safe and well. “We were all howling on the stairs with complete joy,” she said.

It is understood that Mr Drake — said to be the brother of Craig Meehan’s mother, Alice Meehan — has two daughters aged 10 and 12 who were taken into care some years ago. Alice Meehan, 49, last night revealed that he was arrested in 2004 when he took his oldest daughter from school. She said Mr Drake lost his own children three years ago after a split from his wife.

“I can’t believe he had Shannon, my own brother, it feels like he has brought shame on our family. I’m sure there’s no way he would have hurt her. He was missing his kids.”

She said Mr Drake had custody of his children but was eventually deemed unfit and no longer saw them: “This killed him.”

As news spread of the nine-year-old’s safe return, people emerged on to the streets of Dewsbury and Batley to celebrate, with lager and wine.

Mandy Dixon, 37, described how police descended on Lidgate Gardens. Officers battered their way through the blue door opening on to stairs up to the maisonette flat. A plainclothes officer brought Shannon out first.

She said: “A neighbour shouted out, ‘Is that Shannon?’ and they said, ‘Yes, it is’. I could not see Shannon’s face, she was covered up. She was clinging to the officer for dear life.”

Another neighbour, David Hughes, 46, a former soldier, whose flat overlooks the suspect’s home, said: “They busted in the door at about 1.30pm and later they dragged him out. He was cuffed to two police officers. They ordered him to obey their commands but he refused, curling his legs underneath him as if he did not want to go. He was crying and whingeing.

“Shannon came out with two police officers. She looked OK. I would say quite calm. She was dressed in a dark blue jacket and trousers.

“I could see it was Shannon. This episode has left us all so incredibly happy that she is going home alive and well.”

Residents on the estate expressed astonishment that they could have been living so close to the missing girl for so long. One said: “It is so shocking that she could have been such a short distance away for the last three weeks without us knowing. There has been no sight or sound of this little girl.”

People in the estate, which is mixed between Asian and white working class, spoke of a loner who hardly ever emerged from the flat.

Ashraf Dadhiwak, a newsagent, 51, said: “I have not seen him for a year. He is a loner who used to come into the shop with his two daughters. He did not look as if he was all there, if you know what I mean. He looked ill to me, certainly not healthy, and had the appearance of someone frightened of something.”

A resident, who did not want to be named, said the daughters were taken into care when his wife was unwell and he couldn’t look after them. “I thought he had left the area but maybe he came back recently. A neighbour came to tell me there were police in the street and said the woman in the flat downstairs had called the police. Apparently she heard a child’s footsteps and knew he did not have any children so she was suspicious.”

Last night a large area of the estate surrounded by a grassy knoll was cordoned off by scenes-of-crime tape.

A yellow telephone directory lay unrecovered on the porch and shabby curtains in the upstairs windows had a pattern with the words “biker boy”.

Inside, forensic science experts began their painstaking work, which will continue this morning.

A statement from West Yorkshire Police said: “As part of ongoing investigations, detectives and specialist search officers attended a house at Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, Dewsbury, at 12.30pm this afternoon.

“During a search of the house, officers located Shannon Matthews who was found concealed in the base of a divan bed. A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of abduction at the address and is currently in custody at a West Yorkshire police station. Shannon is currently in the care of West Yorkshire Police.”

Missing for 24 days

February 19 Last sighting of Shannon at about 3.10pm leaving Westmoor Junior School in Dewsbury. Police begin a search of the area

February 21 Police confirm Shannon’s friends said she talked of running away from home

February 22 Police release CCTV footage of Shannon leaving Dewsbury Sports Centre

February 23 Police admit that they are “gravely concerned” about finding Shannon despite receiving more than 300 calls from the public and searching more than 200 homes

February 25 Police call in 50 officers to search bins around Shannon’s home. Specialist divers have searched a local pond, sewers and drains

February 29 Shannon’s mother makes plea for her return for Mother’s Day

March 5 Police release a recording of Karen Matthews’ 999 call on February 19

March 11 More than half of the UK’s specialist search dogs are involved in the hunt

March 14 Shannon found alive in Batley Carr, 24 days after she went missing. A man aged 39 is arrested in relation to her disappearance

Sources Times database and Home Office

Times Recommends

• What makes the perfect mum?
• To keep me stress-free, no more awareness days, please
• What do lottery winners buy?