Missing girls police defend 'delay'

Police hope the car sighting will be a breakthrough

Police searching for 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman are defending their inquiry after it emerged they did not interview a potential key witness for four days.

Taxi driver Ian Webster said he had seen a motorist apparently struggling with two children on the evening the girls went missing from Soham in Cambridgeshire, nine days ago.

It is an important and significant time for the inquiry

DCI Andy Hebb

He claims he first contacted police in Wales on Wednesday 7 August, but was not interviewed until 11 August. He also says one of his passengers reported the incident to police the day before he did.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Hebb of Cambridgeshire police said the force had been inundated with calls but insisted: "All information received is taken extremely seriously."

Mr Webster, 56, told officers he saw a man in a metallic dark green saloon car "thrashing his arms about" while driving "like a man demented" towards Newmarket on the A142 near Soham.

Jessica and Holly have been missing for nine days

The car was seen "swerving all over" the road at about 1900 BST on 4 August, with what appeared to the witness to be one child in the front and another in the back seat.

This information was made the basis of a public appeal on Monday 12 August.

Cambridgeshire Police say they prioritised the taxi driver's call on Friday 9 August, told a team to contact him on 10 August, and that his statement was given the next day.

The taxi driver first contacted Dyfed-Powys Police in Brecon, South Wales, where he was on business, last Wednesday - 7 August.

He spoke to a CID officer and was told one hour later the investigation had been informed of his report.

Types of car the girls may have been in
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On returning home to Newmarket, Suffolk, on Friday, 9 August, he contacted police again but was not interviewed until Sunday.

Mr Webster said: "I've done everything I possibly could, as early as I possibly could."

He added that he had received a call from one of the passengers in his taxi at the time to say the incident had also been reported by them.

"One of the other passengers had made a statement, or reported this incident as being relevant, on the Tuesday prior to my statement," he said.

In pictures: 'Struggling' driver's route
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Det Chief Insp Andy Hebb said he understood why people could feel "frustrated" by the apparent delays but said the sheer number of calls made to police meant information took time to process.

The driver of the car seen by Mr Webster is described as between 38 and 45-years-old, a white male of Mediterranean appearance or with a tanned complexion, clean shaven and with black wiry unkempt hair no longer than collar length. He wore dark clothing.

Detectives are now scouring CCTV and speed camera films for any sign of the dark green saloon car, possibly a Peugeot 405 or Vauxhall Vectra, spotted by the taxi driver. Anyone with information should call police on 01480 422982.

Anyone with information should call police on 01480 422982.

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