Police have charged Shannon Matthews' mother in connection with the schoolgirl's disappearance.

Karen Matthews has been charged with perverting the course of justice and child neglect three weeks after nine-year-old Shannon was found at an address just one mile from her Dewsbury home.

Mrs Matthews will appear before magistrates in Dewsbury on Wednesday.

She was arrested on Sunday night and was questioned by detectives at Wakefield police station.

Speaking at a news conference at Dewsbury police station, Crown Prosecution Service lawyer Peter Mann said: "Having carefully considered all of the evidence provided in the file by West Yorkshire Police, we have decided that there is sufficient evidence and have authorised that Karen Matthews be charged with perverting the course of justice and child neglect.

"She is in the process of being charged and will appear before Dewsbury Magistrates' Court on Wednesday morning. We will continue to keep this case under constant review."

Mrs Matthews is the fourth family member to be held in connection with the case.

Michael Donovan, of Lidgate Gardens, Batley Carr, was arrested on March 14, after Shannon was found in his flat following her disappearance on February 19.

He was later charged with Shannon's kidnap and false imprisonment and is remanded in custody awaiting trial at Leeds Crown Court on November 11.

The 39-year-old, formerly known as Paul Drake, is the uncle of Matthews' partner Craig Meehan.

Last week, Meehan's sister, Amanda Hyett, 25, who lives next door to Shannon's mother in Moorside Road, Dewsbury Moor, and his mother, Alice Meehan, 49, were both arrested in connection with the alleged abduction.

Mrs Hyett was questioned on suspicion of assisting an offender and Mrs Meehan on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The pair were released on bail pending further inquiries.

Meehan, 22, was also arrested last week after detectives investigating Shannon's disappearance allegedly found 140 poronographic images of children on two computers.

He appeared at Dewsbury Magistrates' Court on Thursday charged with 11 counts of possessing indecent images of children.

He was remanded in custody to appear again before the same court on Friday.

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