No contact from girls' 'abductor'

DS Beck left a message on Jessica's mobile phone

Police investigating the disappearance of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman say no contact was made by any abductor before Thursday's midnight deadline expired.

The dedicated hotline was set up by the detective leading the investigation, Detective Superintendent David Beck, on Wednesday.

He had left a message on Jessica's missing mobile phone to whoever is holding the 10-year-olds, urging them to get in touch.

But the midnight deadline passed in silence.

Our optimism about finding Jessica and Holly alive remains as strong as it was on day one

Det Chief Insp Andy Hebb

Police said they were "not unduly anxious" because they do not know for certain that the girls are being held.

"If someone is holding the girls it is possible that they don't have access to Jessica's phone and therefore could not access the message left by Mr Beck," said Det Chief Insp Andy Hebb.

"We will reconsider our options later today [Friday] once we have taken expert advice about how this line of inquiry may be progressed."

The pair have been missing since Sunday 4 August when they disappeared from their home town of Soham in Cambridgeshire.

Soham: A town in limbo
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The police were, he said, still optimistic they would find the girls alive.

"The fact that we have not received a phone call from a possible abductor has not changed that, nor has our commitment or determination to find both girls and return them to their families," he added.

The girls' parents have made another emotional appeal through police for the safe return of their daughters.

Parents' appeal

Mr Hebb said: "Holly and Jessica, your parents still love you. They want you back safe and well."

Reverend Alan Ashton, a methodist minister in Soham, told BBC News there was frustration among the community about the lack of progress, but still hope.

He said: "Soham has always been a strong, courageous and resilient society.

Jessica and Holly have been missing for 10 days

"And although things have happened to us that have thrust us into the eyes of the nation and the world, through this tragic disappearance of Holly and Jessica, we still remain strong."

With no sign of any breakthrough, more senior officers have been brought in to head the inquiry team.

Cambridgeshire Police's acting deputy chief constable, Keith Hoddy, has taken overall personal control of the investigation, while Chris Stevenson, a detective chief superintendent, has been brought in to work alongside Mr Beck.

Although he is senior in rank, police insisted Mr Stevenson was not replacing Mr Beck and denied the change was in response to criticism over handling of the inquiry.

	:	Holly and Jessica
Maps showing focus of the investigation

They insisted it was for practical reasons given the increasing size of the operation.

Mr Hebb said: "This is a massive inquiry for one person to manage. Police are putting in the days, putting in the hours, without time off."

A team from the Metropolitan Police has also arrived to conduct a review of the Cambridgeshire inquiry to inject fresh ideas and spot mistakes.

Residents offered their expertise to police

The move has sparked calls for an FBI-style body to investigate major crimes and take the strain off local forces.

And Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the government would be open to suggestions made by police after the inquiry.

Now the focus of the investigation has returned to the girls' home town.

Residents of Soham were asked at a public meeting on Thursday night to think if the behaviour of friends or neighbours had become unusual.

But some voiced frustration that their local knowledge had not been used more by police.