By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 04:11 EST, 8 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:56 EST, 9 October 2012 . Poignant tributes were last night paid to the memory of missing April Jones as hundreds of well-wishers released pink balloons and Chinese lanterns into the night sky. Local residents lit candles and released the symbolic glowing lights after the schoolgirl's parents asked for her to be remembered, one week on from her disappearance. It is believed Coral Jones, 40, and husband Paul, 44, released their own Chinese lantern from their garden in Machynlleth in a private remembrance. Blackpool Tower was lit up pink, several hours after the five-year-old's alleged killer was remanded by magistrates. Scroll down for video . Poignant: Hundreds of well-wishers last night paid tribute to the memory of missing April Jones by releasing pink balloons and Chinese lanterns into the night sky . Never forgotten: Local residents release the symbolic glowing lights after April's parents asked for her to be remembered, one week on from her disappearance . Symbolic: A policeman stands at the end of Bryn-Y-Gog watching as lanterns are released into the sky . Touched: Mair Raftree, April's godmother, watches as hundreds of people release pink balloons in memory of the five-year-old . Bridger appeared  at Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court charged with abducting and murdering April as well as the unlawful disposal and concealment of her body with intent to pervert the . course of justice. Wearing black trousers and a blue jumper Bridger, 46, stood in the dock as the charges were put to him. Bridger, who had a closely shaved . head and goatee beard, cried to himself as he spoke to confirm his name, . age and address. He also confirmed he understood the charges. He appeared on the verge of tears throughout the hearing, which lasted around four minutes. He was remanded in custody and will next appear at Caernarfon Crown Court on Wednesday. Minutes earlier, about 100 people lined the streets, shouting abuse and heckling as Bridger's security van swept into a secure court car park. Bridger arrived at the court in a white security van shortly after 10am, escorted by three police cars. At . one point an object, believed . to be a shoe or a bottle, was thrown at the van and police struggled to . restrain angry members of the public stood behind a cordon. April's godmother Mair Raftree . was standing in the crowd and burst into tears as soon as the van passed . her. Many others wore pink ribbons in support of April's family. Family friend Dilwyn Jones, 67, said: 'I have come down here today because we want to know where April is. That is all the community want to know.' In the dock: Mark Bridger cried to himself as he spoke to confirm his name, age and address. He also confirmed he understood the charges and was then remanded in custody after the four minute hearing . Hunt: A specialist police search team yesterday scours the heathland and hills surrounding the town of Machynlleth in the quest to find the missing five-year-old . Memory: The balloons and lanters were released at 7.30pm last night to mark a week since April disappeared . Guest house worker Sophie Francis, 18, added: 'It's not been the same since April was taken. No one feels safe, no one takes any risks anymore, you don't see kids playing about as much as you use to. It's just shocked us all.' Most of the angry crowd were locals but some had travelled more than a 100 miles to see Bridger. Last night, Superintendent Ian John, the police officer leading the hunt for April, admitted his force would have to prepare themselves for never finding her. The devastating blow for the Jones family came at the end of the sixth full day of searching for her. Superintendent John said: 'We have to prepare for the time when we accept that we might never find April. 'But we are optimistic that the work we are doing is going to give us the best possible chance.' He said there was no official cut off point for the search. But as the increasingly pessimistic . mood fell over those involved in the exhaustive search for April, more . than 200 people - mainly young families with children - filled the green . at Bryn-y-gog at Machynlleth, West Wales, just as it was at . 7pm the week earlier before April vanished. People brought their own lanterns and . balloons after the message went out from parents Coral and Paul to . remember 'angelic' little April. One mother said: 'We just felt we had to be here to mark the week since April was last seen. 'We lit a candle but other people brought pink balloons to release. 'It is incredible to think that last Monday she was here happy and playing just like all the other children here. 'God only know what her poor parents and family have been through since.' A member of the public is held back by police as he throws a bottle at the van transporting Bridger to court . Police officers keep watch on members of the public and press as Bridger's security van enters the court . Heartbreak: Mair Raftree, April's godmother, waits outside court yesterday with friends . A police officer tries to prevent a member of the public from approaching the prison van yesterday morning . Suspect: Bridger was charged with the abduction and murder of April after four days of questioning . Security guard Spencer Shirley, 31, admitted throwing a bottle at the prison van containing Bridger as it arrived. Mr Shirley said he left his home in Birmingham at 5.30am for the three-hour train journey to Aberystwyth. He said: 'This story has really moved me - I find it absolutely heartbreaking. I’ve got a nephew and nieces the same age of April and I can’t stand the idea of anything happening to them.' Mr Shirley had to be restrained by police as he tried to break through the police cordon as the van left. Bridger left court more than an hour after the hearing. The delay was due to a decision to serve him an early lunch before leaving. That is because he is being taken to Manchester where he will be held on remand until his scheduled crown court appearance. The police van was punched and kicked as it drove out of a covered area within the court precincts. A Facebook group dedicated to April urged people not to give up searching for her. April, who suffers from cerebral . palsy and needs daily medication, was last seen near her home on the . Bryn-y-Gog estate in Machynlleth on Monday evening. Bridger was arrested the following . day. He was charged with the abduction and murder of April on Saturday . following four days of questioning. April's parents allowed her to play out late as a treat after she . received a glowing school report. Angry: Dozens of people lined the streets outside Aberystwyth . Magistrates' Court and at one point an object thought to be a shoe (circled) was . thrown at the van as it pulled into the court car park . Court: An object hits the security van (circled). Bridger spoke only to confirm his name, age and address and he confirmed that he understood all the charges. He was remanded in custody after the four minute hearing . A police team carefully search long grass on land near Machynlleth, Mid Wales, yesterday for April Jones . Officers walk in slowly in a line across the rugged landscape looking for clues which could lead them to April . On . Wednesday, a clearly devastated Mrs Jones made an emotional plea for . information over her daughter's disappearance, in which she said: 'It's . been 36 hours since April was taken from us. There must be someone out . there who knows where she is and can help the police find her. 'We are desperate for any news. April is only five years old. Please, please, help find her.' April remains missing despite an intensive, ongoing search effort which has now spanned a week. More than 700 people packed into Machynlleth's St Peter's Church yesterday to attend an emotional service for the schoolgirl. Reverend . Kathleen Rogers led the moving sermon and said prayers for April's . parents. She also paid tribute to the community who had pulled together . to help in the search. She read a touching poem on behalf of . April's mother called 'Mum' as the Bishop of Bangor, Reverend Andy John, . said the tight-knit community had 'touched the heart of people around . the world'. Testing terrain: A specialist police team used an all terrain vehicle to search the countryside surrounding the town of Machynlleth on in their quest to find April . Police yesterday at the home of Bridger, 46, who appeared in court . Police spent several days last week searching Bridger's home (pictured) while he was being questioned . Forensics: Police are seen lifting up paving slabs at the home of Mark Bridger last week . He revealed that emails had been . received from as far afield as South Africa and New Zealand - with a . church in Texas even making a donation. Mountain rescue teams were stood down last night as the search operation switched emphasis. Meanwhile . the hunt goes on, with investigating officers revealing police numbers . on the ground were expected to double yesterday morning. Night time search efforts have been . suspended, with the shift in manpower being described as a change of . 'resources rather than intensity'. Superintendent . Ian John paid tribute to mountain rescue volunteers 'who have worked . themselves to a standstill in the search for April'. He added: 'We are upping our numbers to 18 teams which will be over 100 officers.' Searching: Divers search the River Dyfi last week for any signs of April . Search and rescue teams during their search on the River Dyfi in Machynlleth last week for missing April . Support: Pink ribbons are displayed all around Machynlleth as a gesture of support for April's family . A photograph of missing April adorns a door as police continue their search to find the five-year-old girl . The community of Machynlleth walk together to St Peter's Church for a service with prayers on Sunday . Welsh Secretary David Jones hailed the 'tremendous community spirit' of the people of Machynlleth. Addressing the Conservative Party . conference, he asked activists in Birmingham to 'spare a few thoughts . today for April Jones, her family and the officers of Dyfed-Powys Police . and the search and rescue services' He added: 'Most particularly, could I . ask you to think about the people of Machynlleth who, over the last . seven really harrowing days, have displayed such tremendous community . spirit.' Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.
Superintendent Ian John said hopes of finding April Jones are fading as search enters its seventh day .
Mark Bridger, 46, appears at court charged with her abduction and murder .
Dozens heckle security van carrying Bridger as it arrives at court .
Object, believed to be a bottle, is thrown at the vehicle .
Bridger is remanded in custody and will appear in court tomorrow .
Police double the number of officers searching for April .
By . Emily Allen . PUBLISHED: . 04:11 EST, 8 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:56 EST, 9 October 2012 . Poignant tributes were last night paid to the memory of missing April Jones as hundreds of well-wishers released pink balloons and Chinese lanterns into the night sky. Local residents lit candles and released the symbolic glowing lights after the schoolgirl's parents asked for her to be remembered, one week on from her disappearance. It is believed Coral Jones, 40, and husband Paul, 44, released their own Chinese lantern from their garden in Machynlleth in a private remembrance. Blackpool Tower was lit up pink, several hours after the five-year-old's alleged killer was remanded by magistrates. Scroll down for video . Poignant: Hundreds of well-wishers last night paid tribute to the memory of missing April Jones by releasing pink balloons and Chinese lanterns into the night sky . Never forgotten: Local residents release the symbolic glowing lights after April's parents asked for her to be remembered, one week on from her disappearance . Symbolic: A policeman stands at the end of Bryn-Y-Gog watching as lanterns are released into the sky . Touched: Mair Raftree, April's godmother, watches as hundreds of people release pink balloons in memory of the five-year-old . Bridger appeared  at Aberystwyth Magistrates' Court charged with abducting and murdering April as well as the unlawful disposal and concealment of her body with intent to pervert the . course of justice. Wearing black trousers and a blue jumper Bridger, 46, stood in the dock as the charges were put to him. Bridger, who had a closely shaved . head and goatee beard, cried to himself as he spoke to confirm his name, . age and address. He also confirmed he understood the charges. He appeared on the verge of tears throughout the hearing, which lasted around four minutes. He was remanded in custody and will next appear at Caernarfon Crown Court on Wednesday. Minutes earlier, about 100 people lined the streets, shouting abuse and heckling as Bridger's security van swept into a secure court car park. Bridger arrived at the court in a white security van shortly after 10am, escorted by three police cars. At . one point an object, believed . to be a shoe or a bottle, was thrown at the van and police struggled to . restrain angry members of the public stood behind a cordon. April's godmother Mair Raftree . was standing in the crowd and burst into tears as soon as the van passed . her. Many others wore pink ribbons in support of April's family. Family friend Dilwyn Jones, 67, said: 'I have come down here today because we want to know where April is. That is all the community want to know.' In the dock: Mark Bridger cried to himself as he spoke to confirm his name, age and address. He also confirmed he understood the charges and was then remanded in custody after the four minute hearing . Hunt: A specialist police search team yesterday scours the heathland and hills surrounding the town of Machynlleth in the quest to find the missing five-year-old . Memory: The balloons and lanters were released at 7.30pm last night to mark a week since April disappeared . Guest house worker Sophie Francis, 18, added: 'It's not been the same since April was taken. No one feels safe, no one takes any risks anymore, you don't see kids playing about as much as you use to. It's just shocked us all.' Most of the angry crowd were locals but some had travelled more than a 100 miles to see Bridger. Last night, Superintendent Ian John, the police officer leading the hunt for April, admitted his force would have to prepare themselves for never finding her. The devastating blow for the Jones family came at the end of the sixth full day of searching for her. Superintendent John said: 'We have to prepare for the time when we accept that we might never find April. 'But we are optimistic that the work we are doing is going to give us the best possible chance.' He said there was no official cut off point for the search. But as the increasingly pessimistic . mood fell over those involved in the exhaustive search for April, more . than 200 people - mainly young families with children - filled the green . at Bryn-y-gog at Machynlleth, West Wales, just as it was at . 7pm the week earlier before April vanished. People brought their own lanterns and . balloons after the message went out from parents Coral and Paul to . remember 'angelic' little April. One mother said: 'We just felt we had to be here to mark the week since April was last seen. 'We lit a candle but other people brought pink balloons to release. 'It is incredible to think that last Monday she was here happy and playing just like all the other children here. 'God only know what her poor parents and family have been through since.' A member of the public is held back by police as he throws a bottle at the van transporting Bridger to court . Police officers keep watch on members of the public and press as Bridger's security van enters the court . Heartbreak: Mair Raftree, April's godmother, waits outside court yesterday with friends . A police officer tries to prevent a member of the public from approaching the prison van yesterday morning . Suspect: Bridger was charged with the abduction and murder of April after four days of questioning . Security guard Spencer Shirley, 31, admitted throwing a bottle at the prison van containing Bridger as it arrived. Mr Shirley said he left his home in Birmingham at 5.30am for the three-hour train journey to Aberystwyth. He said: 'This story has really moved me - I find it absolutely heartbreaking. I’ve got a nephew and nieces the same age of April and I can’t stand the idea of anything happening to them.' Mr Shirley had to be restrained by police as he tried to break through the police cordon as the van left. Bridger left court more than an hour after the hearing. The delay was due to a decision to serve him an early lunch before leaving. That is because he is being taken to Manchester where he will be held on remand until his scheduled crown court appearance. The police van was punched and kicked as it drove out of a covered area within the court precincts. A Facebook group dedicated to April urged people not to give up searching for her. April, who suffers from cerebral . palsy and needs daily medication, was last seen near her home on the . Bryn-y-Gog estate in Machynlleth on Monday evening. Bridger was arrested the following . day. He was charged with the abduction and murder of April on Saturday . following four days of questioning. April's parents allowed her to play out late as a treat after she . received a glowing school report. Angry: Dozens of people lined the streets outside Aberystwyth . Magistrates' Court and at one point an object thought to be a shoe (circled) was . thrown at the van as it pulled into the court car park . Court: An object hits the security van (circled). Bridger spoke only to confirm his name, age and address and he confirmed that he understood all the charges. He was remanded in custody after the four minute hearing . A police team carefully search long grass on land near Machynlleth, Mid Wales, yesterday for April Jones . Officers walk in slowly in a line across the rugged landscape looking for clues which could lead them to April . On . Wednesday, a clearly devastated Mrs Jones made an emotional plea for . information over her daughter's disappearance, in which she said: 'It's . been 36 hours since April was taken from us. There must be someone out . there who knows where she is and can help the police find her. 'We are desperate for any news. April is only five years old. Please, please, help find her.' April remains missing despite an intensive, ongoing search effort which has now spanned a week. More than 700 people packed into Machynlleth's St Peter's Church yesterday to attend an emotional service for the schoolgirl. Reverend . Kathleen Rogers led the moving sermon and said prayers for April's . parents. She also paid tribute to the community who had pulled together . to help in the search. She read a touching poem on behalf of . April's mother called 'Mum' as the Bishop of Bangor, Reverend Andy John, . said the tight-knit community had 'touched the heart of people around . the world'. Testing terrain: A specialist police team used an all terrain vehicle to search the countryside surrounding the town of Machynlleth on in their quest to find April . Police yesterday at the home of Bridger, 46, who appeared in court . Police spent several days last week searching Bridger's home (pictured) while he was being questioned . Forensics: Police are seen lifting up paving slabs at the home of Mark Bridger last week . He revealed that emails had been . received from as far afield as South Africa and New Zealand - with a . church in Texas even making a donation. Mountain rescue teams were stood down last night as the search operation switched emphasis. Meanwhile . the hunt goes on, with investigating officers revealing police numbers . on the ground were expected to double yesterday morning. Night time search efforts have been . suspended, with the shift in manpower being described as a change of . 'resources rather than intensity'. Superintendent . Ian John paid tribute to mountain rescue volunteers 'who have worked . themselves to a standstill in the search for April'. He added: 'We are upping our numbers to 18 teams which will be over 100 officers.' Searching: Divers search the River Dyfi last week for any signs of April . Search and rescue teams during their search on the River Dyfi in Machynlleth last week for missing April . Support: Pink ribbons are displayed all around Machynlleth as a gesture of support for April's family . A photograph of missing April adorns a door as police continue their search to find the five-year-old girl . The community of Machynlleth walk together to St Peter's Church for a service with prayers on Sunday . Welsh Secretary David Jones hailed the 'tremendous community spirit' of the people of Machynlleth. Addressing the Conservative Party . conference, he asked activists in Birmingham to 'spare a few thoughts . today for April Jones, her family and the officers of Dyfed-Powys Police . and the search and rescue services' He added: 'Most particularly, could I . ask you to think about the people of Machynlleth who, over the last . seven really harrowing days, have displayed such tremendous community . spirit.' Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.
believed . to be a shoe or a bottle, was thrown Superintendent Ian John, the police officer searching for her. Superintendent John said: 'We Bridger's security van enters the court . containing Bridger as it arrived. Mr Shirley said day. He was charged with the abduction and murder the charges. He was remanded in custody after the home of Bridger, 46, who appeared in court . up paving slabs at the home of Mark Bridger last . today for April Jones, her family and the officers of Dyfed-Powys Police . and the search