She had disappeared from the gates of her school nearly four weeks ago, sparking the biggest investigation in the area since the Yorkshire Ripper inquiry of the late 1970s. Shannon had gone missing on Feb 19 after a swimming trip.

Neighbours said the girl appeared 'quite calm' when she emerged from the house in Batley Carr. A 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of abduction.

Shannon's father, Mr Leon Rose, told Sky News that finding her was 'like winning the lottery'.

Reuters