POLICE have been granted more time to question a man over the alleged abduction of nine-year-old Shannon Matthews.

Michael Donovan, formerly known as Paul Drake, will continue to be interviewed over the schoolgirl's 24-day disappearance.

Shannon was discovered in the base of a divan bed at the 39-year-old's flat in the Batley Carr area of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, on Friday.

Donovan, the uncle of Shannon's stepfather Craig Meehan, appeared before magistrates last night who granted detectives the warrant of further detention.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said that specially trained officers would continue to speak to Shannon today as part of the investigation.

Shannon has been made the subject of an emergency police protection order, which will be in place "as long as is necessary", police said.

The schoolgirl's mother Karen Matthews, 32, and her partner Mr Meehan, 22, arrived back home to Moorside Road in Dewsbury last night and were met by cheering friends and family at their door.

Reverend Kathy Robertson, of the Dewsbury Team Parish, said the pair were looking forward to having their daughter back home.

Anticipation

"They are really good and really relieved that Shannon has been found alive and well," she said after visiting their home this morning.

"They are looking forward to having her in their own home."

The reverend said the atmosphere in the house was one of "anticipation".

She added: "Anyone in that situation would just want to take their child in their arms again."

Yesterday police said Shannon was "on the road to recovery" and had been watching DVDs and playing with a kitten.

She was found by officers at 12.30pm on Friday less than one mile from her home, after a dramatic 24-day disappearance.

In a statement released last night, Mrs Matthews said: "When I first saw Shannon again I was overwhelmed - I just couldn't stop crying, knowing she's back where she belongs and she's safe.

"I never gave up hope and now she'll be able to come home and sleep in her room again. We've got her new pink bedding which she'll love.

"The police have helped a lot. We can't thank them enough."

Mrs Matthews said the support from the local community had been "fantastic" and she thanked them for their letters and cards of hope.

Safe

"We're just happy to be a family again. That's all we've wanted - Shannon back and safe - now the family is safe again," she said.

The Westmoor Junior School pupil disappeared after going on a trip to nearby swimming baths on February 19.

Police launched a massive investigation involving more than 200 officers - said to be the biggest in the area since the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper.

Yesterday the force rebuffed criticism of the time it took them to find Shannon so close to her family home.

One senior police source said there were "literally hundreds of people" in a "huge family network".