The families of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were clinging to a “little hope” today after a search of two mounds of earth by police found no trace of the 10-year-olds.

Police today defended their hunt for missing schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman after it emerged that a potentially key witness contacted them four days before he was interviewed.

A motorist seen struggling with two children in a car near where schoolgirls Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells were last seen has not been traced.

Detectives hunting missing children Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells have defended a delay in issuing a public appeal to certain evidence.

British police say they have a new confirmed sighting of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.