The mother of missing nine-year-old Shannon Matthews is "convinced" her daughter is still alive.

Karen Matthews' comments come amid rumours her partner Craig Meehan, 22, is somehow connected to her little girl's disappearance.

But the couple put on a united front in a TV interview earlier to quash suspicion surrounding the family.

Describing her partner as her "rock" Mrs Matthews said: "I know it's nothing to do with him, he wouldn't hurt anyone. It's very hurtful to think people think he would do something like it, because he wouldn't."

Mrs Matthews added: "Wherever she is, she's going to be frightened. It's just breaking everyone's hearts in the street. They just want her back as a normal child would be in her own environment where she knows best.

"I don't think she has run away, I think something sinister has happened. I'm convinced she is still alive. I know she is."

A huge police operation and frantic searches by family and friends have so far failed to find a trace of the young girl and there have been no confirmed sightings of her since she left Westmoor Junior School in Dewsbury at 3.10pm on February 19 .

The 999 call made by Mrs Matthews to report her missing was released by police on Wednesday. Detectives hope the emotional recording will spur witnesses to come forward.

In the 71-second clip, Mrs Matthews, 32, tells the operator she had been expecting her daughter back home at 3.30pm at the latest.

When asked if Shannon had gone missing before, the mother-of-seven seems to sob and replies: "No. It's the first time."

She then tells the operator there have been no arguments at home and that Shannon went to school as normal in the morning.

Shannon's father Leon Rose, said he was convinced his "beautiful angel" was still alive.

"I'm living a nightmare and keep pinching myself to try and wake up. I still keep hoping she'll come walking through the door," he said.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.