'Give our daughters back'

The Wells parents cannot conceal their despair

Missing schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were best friends who would not have strayed away without permission, their parents have said.

In a tearful news conference on Wednesday, the Wells and Chapman parents broke down as they considered the possibility the 10-year-old girls had been abducted.

Hours before their disappearance, the pair had both changed into Manchester United replica shirts at Kelly's home.

The girls about 90 minutes before they disappeared

It is thought they were on their way to buy sweets when they went missing.

The last confirmed sighting of Holly and Jessica was at 1830 BST on Sunday near the girls' homes in the town of Soham, near Cambridge.

Jessica had recently been on holiday to Spain, her father Leslie said.

"All she wanted to do when we got back was to get in touch with Holly and go and play and give her a present," he said.

They are so sensible, if they were able to get to a phone or get any help, they would

Nicola Wells
Holly's mother

Sharon Chapman said Jessica had a mobile phone and when she went out she would regularly phone to let her parents know where she was.

Mrs Chapman said: "She rings home even when she goes to the sweet shop.

"I don't allow her to go far on the streets on her own at all.

"I don't understand why Jess didn't contact us to ask us if she could go out."

Screamed

Her daughter had gone to Holly's house on her bike and rang home twice to ask if she could stay later.

"She was told to ring before coming home so that my husband could come and meet her," Mrs Chapman added.

"We would not have let her come home in the dark on her own."

The Chapmans said Jessica was very sensible

She said Jessica was a confident girl who would have screamed very loudly if snatched.

Nicola Wells, Holly's mother, said: "Anyone who's got children must know what we're going through.

"They are so sensible, if they were able to get to a phone or get any help, they would, most definitely."

All the parents were sceptical about two reported sightings of the girls near Little Thetford.

Mr Chapman said: "It's out of character for both girls and beyond belief that they would have been that far away."

Mr Wells said Holly's 12-year-old brother was "very quiet" and added: "He is bearing up very well. I don't feel he can understand the full seriousness of the situation."

Anyone with information about the two girls should ring 01480 422982.