A quiet summer's evening - and two little girls vanish

Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman have not been seen since they went missing from Soham, Cambridgeshire, on Sunday evening.

The youngsters, who were both wearing replica David Beckham shirts with No 7 on the backs, were spotted walking at about 6.30pm.

Police say there have been no positive sightings since then and their families have not heard from them.

Jessica's mobile phone did not answer when rung and has since gone dead. Police say checks showed it was in Cambridgeshire when last connected to the call network.

It is thought the girls had been walking towards the centre of Soham to buy sweets.

The youngsters, who are best friends and in the same class at St Andrew's Primary School in Soham, had been playing at Holly's house.

Their parents yesterday made emotional appeals for help in finding them.

Mr and Mrs Wells said they thought the girls were in Holly's bedroom, but when they checked at about 8.30pm on Sunday there was no sign of them.

"Their disappearance is incredibly out of character. We are extremely concerned," said Inspector Simon Causer, who is leading the search.

"They have not been missing before. They have taken no change of clothes.

"Jessica has a telephone but at this moment it is switched off."

He said both girls had access to the Internet and arrangements were being made for experts to examine their computers to see whether they could have arranged to meet someone they had met by e-mail. Checks were also being made on known local child offenders.

Holly's father, Kevin, 38, said the girls had been playing in and out of the house while the family enjoyed a barbecue.

Her mother, Nicola, 35, said: "Our friends went to leave at about 8.30pm and we mentioned how quiet the girls had been.

"When we went to check on them they had gone."

Jessica's father, Leslie, 51, said: "She is bright, intelligent and knows how to use the phone.

"It is just a complete mystery as to why she has not phoned us."