Mark Bridger cries in court after being charged
Mark Bridger in tears as he was charged with April Jones' murder.

Mark Bridger, the man charged with the murder of five-year-old April Jones, cried as he appeared in Aberystwyth Magistrates Court.

The 46-year-old is charged with murder, child abduction and attempting to pervert the course of justice. He appeared in court to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

Bridger cried as he confirmed he understood the charges that had been made against him. He will now appear in Caernarfon Crown Court on 10 October and has been remanded in custody. He will be held in prison in Manchester.

Angry crowds gathered outside the court and booed and shouted "bastard" as the security van carrying Bridger arrived for the hearing.

It has been a week since April went missing from her home town of Machynlleth, Powys. Bridger was charged with her murder on 5 October. Since then, the search for April has continued but has been scaled back.

On Sunday, Superintendent Ian John, of the Dyfed-Powys police, said: "This morning, we have deployed 10 specialist police teams who are continuing to conduct a systematic and methodical search in and around the town.

"We continue to have the support of a whole range of specialist teams as we continue our efforts. We will see change in resourcing but not in intensity as we move forward with the search.

"We are maintaining the momentum of the search and we remain totally focused and committed to finding April."

A quarry near to Bridger's house has been sealed off by police and has been described as a search site rather than a crime scene.