Esti had been missing for six weeks

Esti Clayton disappeared on 9 April with her father Simon, sparking police searches and appeals across Europe.

She was found safe and well in Portugal last Wednesday after a member of the public reported seeing her.

Both she and her mother, Aneta Clayton - who flew abroad to search for her - are now back home in Brecon, mid Wales.

Mrs Clayton - who is separated from Esti's father Simon - told Radio Wales she was grateful for all the help and support she had received.

She had special thanks for the police at Brecon, who led the search operation.

"They have been there 24 hours a day for me," she said.

The UK authorities want to extradite Simon Clayton

Friends and neighbours had also provided a sound support network, she said, but the public had played a vital role in helping to track down Esti.

"I have had such a lot of support and help," she said.

"If it had not been for the publicity we have done, I don't think I would have been reunited with her so quickly."

Despite the media interest in the abduction, Esti remains unaware of all the fuss.

Neighbours had wanted to hold a party to celebrate her return, but Aneta decided it was best not to do so.

"She doesn't know what has happened," Mrs Clayton said.

'No anger'

"She just thinks she was on a long holiday, and mummy came to collect her."

The relieved mother said she did not feel angry about what happened, adding: "I'm just happy that Esti's with me."

Mr Clayton, a bookseller from the mid-Wales border town of Hay-on-Wye, was days away from a custody battle with his former wife when he took Esti and her pet ferret, Fifi, away with him.

Dyfed Powys Police later learned he had taken a ferry from Portsmouth to France with his daughter on 9 April, hours after picking her up from her mother.

They also found a letter at his home saying he was taking her away on a three-week holiday - but detectives feared he had left the UK for good.

Esti took her pet ferret away with her

After extensive appeals, the father and daughter were tracked down near the town of Lagos on Portugal's Algarve coast and Mr Clayton, 41, a former pilot, was arrested.

Two weeks ago, Mrs Clayton - who was granted custody of the girl when Mr Clayton failed to turn up for the court hearing on 25 April 25 - travelled to France to join the hunt for her daughter.

Her decision to go to France followed two reported sightings of the child in the southern French city of Nice.

The day Mrs Clayton went to France, a third sighting was reported by a man who said he had seen Mr Clayton's camper van travelling along the coast towards Nice. Then police revealed that a man from Wales had come forward with a possible fourth sighting.

He told detectives he had seen a man and child fitting the description of Mr Clayton and Esti in a restaurant near Le Havre, and had heard the man call the little girl Esti.

When Esti was found, Detective Inspector Steve Hughson, of Dyfed Powys Police, said: "I am very pleased that this inquiry has been brought to a successful conclusion and that Esti is safe and well. We must now let the legal process take its course in respect of Mr Clayton."