Esti had been missing for six weeks

Dyfed-Powys Police had been working closely with foreign police forces in their search for Esti Clayton, who had not been seen since 9 April.

At first it was thought her father Simon - who was divorced from her mother Aneta - had taken his daughter to France.

On Wednesday it emerged that Mr Clayton, a book dealer from Hay-on-Wye on the Powys-Herefordshire border, is understood to have been arrested and extradition proceedings have begun.

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.

Simon Clayton said he was taking Esti on holiday

Detective Inspector Steve Hughson 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."

Esti's mother Aneta, who lives in Brecon, has flown to Faro and has been reunited with her daughter, who has been cared for by the authorities.

It is not known when they will return to Brecon.

Only last week she flew to France to join officers in their search after three reported sightings of Esti in France - two in Nice and one in Normandy.

Police first made a public appeal for information as to the whereabouts of Esti back in April.

Esti's mother travelled to France to search for her

They revealed that instead of returning Esti to her mother after spending a weekend with her, Mr Clayton had left a note at his house saying that he was taking his daughter on a holiday for three weeks.

He explained that he had booked a place on a ferry that left Portsmouth that day for Caen in France.

It was initially thought that he may have taken her to Spain or Morocco, where he was known to have contacts.

The Claytons have been separated for three years. They married in 1997 after meeting in Poland, while Mr Clayton was visiting on business.

The custody of their only child is still being decided by the courts.