The man accused of kidnapping Shannon Matthews told police he took the schoolgirl on trips to the park, a court heard yesterday.

The man accused of kidnapping Shannon Matthews told police he took the schoolgirl on trips to the park, a court heard yesterday.

Michael Donovan told police officers he drove the nine-year-old girl to the supermarket and took her to local parks.

Meanwhile, hundreds of police officers and members of the public were scouring the Dewsbury area searching for the youngster in one of West Yorkshire Police's largest ever investigations.

The court heard the youngster was unaware of the huge police search and media interest as she would watch cartoons on the television.

Mr Donovan, 40, told police: "During the time Shannon was with me we stayed mostly in the house, although sometimes I would go out and buy clothes, food, toys, games and DVDs.

Mr Donovan made the disclosures in police interviews after Shannon was found by officers in the bottom of a divan bed at his flat in Lidgate Gardens.

He and Shannon's mother, Karen Matthews, 33, deny kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice.

Mr Donovan said he was threatened by Ms Matthews who said she would set three "lads" on to him if he did not take Shannon to his flat.

He told police that Ms Matthews had phoned him and told him the reward money had reached £35,000. "She told me if it gets to £50,000 she would ring me and I would know what to do," he said.

He told the officers: "I wanted to take Shannon back, but I was frightened of the men."

During her interviews, Ms Matthews told detectives she had asked Mr Donovan to help her leave her partner, Craig Meehan.She said she asked him to take Shannon first because she was only nine and she did not want her to be hurt by her relationship breaking up.

The trial was adjourned until Monday.