Council offers support to those affected by April Jones case

The "recovery group" service is working with local schools and community organisations in the small mid-Wales town to provide support for April's classmates, the child witnesses in the recent murder trial and other local residents touched by the case.

Last week, 47-year-old local man Mark Bridger was convicted of April's abduction and murder. Her disappearance last October sparked the largest missing-person hunt in police history, but her body has not been found.

Bridger is a father of six, and the recovery group has also offered help to his family, the council said.

Agencies involved in the recovery group include social services and children's services in Powys, the police, and the local health board, which provides specialist counselling services.

A Powys County Council spokesperson said: “Among those who have been offered help are some of the 29 child witnesses the police interviewed, former schoolmates of April, members of Bridger's family, members of staff and other residents of Machynlleth.
 
“The group is chaired by the council’s interim head of adult services and operates in a similar way to the support provided by the council to residents to help cope with a natural disaster like flooding.
 
“The recovery group will continue to be in place for as long as it is needed.”

A counselling and drop-in centre on the Bryn-Y-Gog estate where April lived has reportedly seen a large increase in the number of clients, young and old, using the centre during Bridger's trial.

Meanwhile, the police are exploring whether Bridger committed offences against children before he killed April. He came into contact with children when he worked as a lifeguard at a leisure centre in Machynlleth and at an outdoor activity centre.