Police say they are treating the disappearance of a five-year-old girl in Powys as a suspected abduction.
April Jones was playing with friends near her home in Machynlleth but was seen getting into a grey or light coloured van at 19:30 BST on Monday.
Around 200 people helped in a search of streets, farmland and woodland through the night.
Det Ch Supt Simon Powell of Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were "becoming increasingly concerned for her safety".
Local people gathered at Machynlleth Leisure Centre on Monday evening to help look for the girl, as news of her disappearance spread on social network sites.
A crowd of people had also gathered in the town's main street to take part in the search, and posters of April have been put up.
Inspector Kevin Davies: Police looking for grey van believed to have taken April
Dog teams
Police have set up road blocks to check vehicles, while the street where April disappeared has been cordoned off.
Det Ch Supt Powell said: "Dyfed-Powys Police have launched an intensive search and criminal investigation into the abduction of a five-year-old girl, April Jones, in Machynlleth.
"April was last seen playing on a bicycle near her home address and was seen getting into what we believe was a light-coloured van which then drove off."
Insp Kevin Davies said the fire service and police dog teams had been mobilised, and vehicle check-points set up on roads going in and out of the town.
He said: "There is mention of a grey van, we're looking at that as one of the angles of inquiry. Nothing is being overlooked. It's an angle, it's an inquiry that we're pursuing along with other angles.
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BBC Wales reporter Cemlyn Davies at the scene
I've already heard shouts and cries of 'April' as the search resumed this morning.
I'm standing near the spot where the five-year-old was last seen around half past seven on Monday evening.
The community has really pulled together and that was clear last night.
A few hundred people gathered at the town's leisure centre.
I was there to watch them come together. They divided themselves into groups to go out into the town to keep searching for April.
This morning, I've spoken to the local councillors who have said they will do everything possible to help April Jones's family at this very, very difficult time.
They've described the family as a wonderful family who play their part in the community, and they'll do everything they can to help find April safe and sound.
"We're searching the area. Everything we can possibly do is being done.
"The family are obviously distressed. We're trying to keep them informed, we've got an officer allocated to them just to keep them informed as to what's happening. Any information, we'll share with them."
Machynlleth, an historic market town in countryside in the Dyfi Valley, has a population of around 2,100.
Search volunteer Anwen Morris said locals had searched an area with a 30-mile radius overnight using quad bikes and off-road vehicles.
Local people described the family as "very well liked" and said they had helped create a community garden on the town's Bryn-y-Gog estate.
Brian Vaughn, whose daughter goes to junior school with April, described her as a "lovely little girl". He said: "Everybody just wants her back, really.
"Whatever we've got to do, we'll do it. We're just hoping for the best, that she's closer rather than further away."
'Really worrying'
Mayor of Machenlleth Gareth Jones, who was among those at the leisure centre, said people wanted to help the search in any way they could.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-19795761
Hope they get her back safe and well.
String the bastard up that took her. These people should be left to be dealt with by the public.
Not the best way to start the day by hearing sad news like this.
Come back safe little one.
April Jones was playing with friends near her home in Machynlleth but was seen getting into a grey or light coloured van at 19:30 BST on Monday.
Around 200 people helped in a search of streets, farmland and woodland through the night.
Det Ch Supt Simon Powell of Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were "becoming increasingly concerned for her safety".
Local people gathered at Machynlleth Leisure Centre on Monday evening to help look for the girl, as news of her disappearance spread on social network sites.
A crowd of people had also gathered in the town's main street to take part in the search, and posters of April have been put up.
Inspector Kevin Davies: Police looking for grey van believed to have taken April
Dog teams
Police have set up road blocks to check vehicles, while the street where April disappeared has been cordoned off.
Det Ch Supt Powell said: "Dyfed-Powys Police have launched an intensive search and criminal investigation into the abduction of a five-year-old girl, April Jones, in Machynlleth.
"April was last seen playing on a bicycle near her home address and was seen getting into what we believe was a light-coloured van which then drove off."
Insp Kevin Davies said the fire service and police dog teams had been mobilised, and vehicle check-points set up on roads going in and out of the town.
He said: "There is mention of a grey van, we're looking at that as one of the angles of inquiry. Nothing is being overlooked. It's an angle, it's an inquiry that we're pursuing along with other angles.
Continue reading the main story
BBC Wales reporter Cemlyn Davies at the scene
I've already heard shouts and cries of 'April' as the search resumed this morning.
I'm standing near the spot where the five-year-old was last seen around half past seven on Monday evening.
The community has really pulled together and that was clear last night.
A few hundred people gathered at the town's leisure centre.
I was there to watch them come together. They divided themselves into groups to go out into the town to keep searching for April.
This morning, I've spoken to the local councillors who have said they will do everything possible to help April Jones's family at this very, very difficult time.
They've described the family as a wonderful family who play their part in the community, and they'll do everything they can to help find April safe and sound.
"We're searching the area. Everything we can possibly do is being done.
"The family are obviously distressed. We're trying to keep them informed, we've got an officer allocated to them just to keep them informed as to what's happening. Any information, we'll share with them."
Machynlleth, an historic market town in countryside in the Dyfi Valley, has a population of around 2,100.
Search volunteer Anwen Morris said locals had searched an area with a 30-mile radius overnight using quad bikes and off-road vehicles.
Local people described the family as "very well liked" and said they had helped create a community garden on the town's Bryn-y-Gog estate.
Brian Vaughn, whose daughter goes to junior school with April, described her as a "lovely little girl". He said: "Everybody just wants her back, really.
"Whatever we've got to do, we'll do it. We're just hoping for the best, that she's closer rather than further away."
'Really worrying'
Mayor of Machenlleth Gareth Jones, who was among those at the leisure centre, said people wanted to help the search in any way they could.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-19795761
Hope they get her back safe and well.String the bastard up that took her. These people should be left to be dealt with by the public.
Not the best way to start the day by hearing sad news like this.
Come back safe little one.
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