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 parks.

He described how she would sit in the back of his car with her pink coat on and hood up, Leeds Crown Court was told. Donovan also took her for a drive in his car “to give her some fresh air”, the jury heard.

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 investigations.

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.

“She said I was kind and generous, not like her parents. I took her once when it was getting dark to Tesco supermarket in Batley, and once to the Asda supermarket in Dewsbury and she would be sat in the back of the car in her pink coat with the hood up.

“On about three times I took her to parks in Batley and Birstall and once in the evening again I took her for a ride in the car to give her a break from the house and get some fresh air.”

Donovan made the disclosures in police interviews after Shannon was found by officers in the bottom of a 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. Donovan told officers he was threatened by Matthews who said she would set three “lads” on him if he did not agree to take Shannon.

The court heard how Donovan told officers Matthews made the threat when the pair met at a cafe in Dewsbury, before Shannon vanished.

During the interviews, he told the officers: “When I saw the news I wanted to take her back home, but I was still frightened of Karen's threats to set men on me if I did.”

He told police that Matthews had phoned to say 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.

The trial was adjourned until Monday.