A mother has hired a private detective in a desperate bid to find her missing daughter.

Anne-Marie Kingshott has not heard from four-year-old Danielle Dempster since she was taken by her former partner John Dempster, his parents and brother in January.

Miss Kingshott, of Cavalry Crescent, Eastbourne, has applied for legal aid to pay for the services of a detective in Alicante, Spain, where she believes Mr Dempster and his family have taken her daughter.

She said: "We are waiting to hear to see if that will be paid for. Then we can tell the detective he can go ahead. He's out there waiting to hear from us."

Danielle was made a ward of court earlier this year.

Miss Kingshott had held out hope she would be returned home in time for her birthday in June and bought presents and cards. But they remain unopened.

Danielle was due to start part-time at Pashley Down Infants School in September but hope is fading that she will be able to take up her place.

Miss Kingshott, 24, found Danielle and her father's family missing after returning to her former home in Greenleaf Gardens, Polegate, after a trip to Croydon.

The house had been emptied of furniture, clothes and Danielle's toys.

Miss Kingshott had gone to Croydon with Mr Dempster, who was attending a course in accounting.

When he left the hotel in the morning, Miss Kingshott went shopping. She returned to find he had packed and left.

She caught the first train back to Polegate to find her daughter, who was being looked after by Mr Dempster's family, had vanished.

Police were alerted about the missing child and an all-ports warning was put in place.

Miss Kingshott believes the family took Danielle to Spain in a Winnebago motorhome after a recent holiday there.

She said: "No one has heard anything from them. I think they are working over there."

Anyone with any information about Danielle's whereabouts is asked to contact Cramp and Co solicitors on 01323 720581 or the Brighton County Court Family Centre on 01273 811333.