Community shaken by fear of possibilities

The volunteers re-assembled outside St Andrew's primary school to resume their search this morning.

Throughout yesterday children, pensioners and couples pushing prams donned boots and raincoats to make their way through the undergrowth of the vast, flat fenland.

It could have been a village ramble. But the five hundred people out searching for Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman was a community which had come together. And they were afraid of what they might find.

The ten-year-olds had not been seen or heard from since about 6.30pm on Sunday. Police say they are keeping an open mind about what could have happened to the girls who disappeared after spending much of the day playing at Holly's house in Soham.

The Cambridgeshire village, which dates from the 7th century, is now popular with London commuters. Some of those searching know the 10-year-olds and their families. Many do not. But they all worked together in the heavy showers. Some left work early to join the search last night. Mick Badcock, 59, who knows the girls' families, said: "I am a grandfather and I know it could have happened to my children. We all know this so we don't need to think about helping these families.

"This used to be the kind of place where you left your front door unlocked and you knew you would be all right. It is not like that anymore, but there is some of that village spirit left and I think that is why people are helping out."

Among the searchers was Kevin Wells, father of Holly. With a grim determination, Mr Wells, a contract cleaner, said: "I really feel that I need to be out here contributing to the search, looking in all the nooks and crannies. We're clinging to every bit of hope we can."

He added: "I just cannot believe the phenomenal turnout by the village. We appreciate it so much."

To the outsider, the fields around the village - whose only claim to fame is an international bowls tournament - seem like flat farmland. But locals said they hide many hazards.

"There are lots of trenches and dips that could be really dangerous. It looks like flat fields but it is nothing like that," said a former farmer who was helping the searchers.

The same thought must have crossed the mind of Mr Wells, 38, a popular figure in the village and captain of the local cricket team. His family has always lived in Soham. His wife Nicola, 35, a secretary whose family has also lived in Soham for generations, was trying to take some solace in the depth of feeling from other villagers.

Well-wishers have sent cards and messages to the four-bedroom detached home, into which the family had recently moved with Holly and their 12-year-old son Oliver.

Mr Wells was described by one former school friend, as "easygoing, fun to be with".

Mrs Wells, whose father, Den, is a retired engineer, is also well-liked.

"They are the kind of people who have worked hard to get where they are," said Mr Badcock, a family friend.

A few streets away from the Wells's home, Leslie and Sharon Chapman were going through similar agonies. Mr Chapman, 51, a maintenance engineer, should have been starting a new job yesterday.

But he found himself desperately hoping for his youngest daughter to return home safe. Mrs Chapman, a 43-year-old care assistant, was trying to take comfort from her other daughters, Rebecca, 16, and 14-year-old Alison.