Missing child seen with blond man

A blond-haired young man may have abducted the missing girl Zoe Evans, detectives said last night. Fears grew for her after witnesses told police they had seen her talking to him.

A slim, 5ft 7in tall man with shaven hair was seen walking with Zoe, nine, through a supermarket car park towards the railway station in Warminster, Wiltshire, on Saturday afternoon. She disappeared from her home in the town last Saturday morning. Another witness saw Zoe shortly afterwards on a footpath. A similar man in a black bomber-type jacket with a "Spliffy" motif on the back was behind her.

Superintendent Colin Dixon, head of Wiltshire CID, said Zoe had not appeared to be distressed. But he added: "As every day passes we are growing more concerned." Police urged anyone who saw her with the man to contact them on 01380 722341. A big search continued.