Two more from Shannon's family arrested over kidnap

The mother and sister of Shannon Matthews's stepfather were yesterday arrested over the nine-year-old's abduction.

Alice Meehan, 49, and Amanda Hyett, 25, had been due to meet police yesterday morning, after Shannon's stepfather Craig Meehan, 22, was charged with possessing 130 indecent images of children.

But in a telephone call before the meeting, Hyett was told by detectives that she and her mother would be arrested when they arrived.

Hyett was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, her mother on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Both women were granted police bail late last night, West Yorkshire Police said.

Meanwhile, Shannon's mother went into hiding after receiving death threats.

Karen Matthews, 32, was taken to a secret address after Meehan appeared in court.

She is believed to have ended their relationship following his arrest.

The mother of seven is being cared for by a police liaison officer. She is not expected to return home for the next few days.

Miss Matthews and Hyett are next door neighbours in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, and Hyett was a central figure in appealing for information during the 24 days Shannon was missing. The girl vanished following a school swimming trip on February 19.

And when police found her on March 14, Hyett, a mother of two, and her husband, Neil, spoke of their joy.

Hyett, who was with Miss Matthews and Meehan when the news broke, said then: "We heard them say the words 'safe' and 'well'. Then we all shouted out. I am so pleased she has been found."

Hyett's uncle Michael Donovan, a computer programmer, 39, has already been charged with kidnap and false imprisonment of Shannon.

Scroll down for more ...

Police found the girl curled up in the base of a divan bed in his flat, less than a mile from her home. Donovan, was hiding in the other compartment.

He faces trial in November, at Leeds Crown Court.

Shannon has been staying with a foster family. Although an emergency protection order on her has been lifted, it is possible she may never return home.

Yesterday, neighbours said the community's support for Miss Matthews was starting to wane.

Friends have urged residents not to take out their anger on her, saying she knew nothing of the indecent images alleged to have been found on two computers that police took from the family home.

Meehan, a supermarket fishmonger, was charged on Wednesday, after detectives discovered the indecent images.

Scroll down for more ...

The pictures feature children as young as four. They are not of Shannon or her siblings.

Family friend Petra Jamieson, 30, said Miss Matthews "has been receiving threats on her life and the house".