A distraught village asks 'Why?'

A SINGLE pink rose lay upon the rain-soaked grass outside St Andrew's Parish Church in Soham, a note attached to it simply asked: ''Why?''

Members of the tight-knit community, which has been rocked by the events of the past two weeks, have been silently passing the front door of the 14th century building in the town centre to lay flowers, gifts and messages of sympathy, comfort and support to the families of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells.

As the thunder continued to rumble overhead, grief-stricken residents wiped tears from their eyes as they stood to read the many messages of condolence.

One note read: ''To Holly and Jessica, with all our thoughts and our love to two special people. We are so sorry your young lives were so cruelly cut short.''

Another read: ''Soham's heart is broken.''

Townsfolk continued to arrive at the church throughout the day, little children, one hand clinging on to their parents and in the other a bunch of flowers.

Families gathered in sombre mood looking over the messages of support, many of which promised never to forget the two girls.

Some 500 people attended yesterday's multi-denominational service in which parish vicar, the Reverend Tim Alban Jones, spoke of the ''searing heart-rending agony'' and said the town had been ''violated'' by recent events.

Mr Alban Jones described the discovery of two bodies as a ''distressing and disturbing development'' which had left the community ''even more stunned and, if possible, sent even deeper into shock''.

Speaking of the girls' parents, he said: ''Kevin and Nicola, Leslie and Sharon have borne themselves with a bravery and dignity that has won them tremendous admiration and respect.

"We cannot even begin to imagine how harrowing this nightmare must be for them.''

Earlier, local resident Anne Taylor, 28, fought back tears as she described the devastating effect the disappearance of the two girls has had on the community. She The service, she said, was ''very important for everyone to come together''.

''There is such a strong sense of community here with a lot of wonderful people. I have been here for three and a half years and it's just a wonderful community and everybody is so close.'' said the town had been shaken to its roots.

Amanda Hellman, 32, her voice quivering under the strain, sent one simple message to the family: ''The whole town is weeping with you.''

As many residents of Soham made their way out of the church, some stood to cast an eye over the flowers placed by the entrance.

A Manchester United replica T-shirt lay wrapped in a clear plastic bag among the flowers, a puddle of water collecting in the middle ''Rest in peace forever in the hearts of your loved ones and reside in the theatre of dreams for eternity, together in love,'' the message read.

The deep distress felt by every member of the community was clearly visible, not only from the emotion etched in their faces, but from the flowers and messages.

Kneeling down to get a closer look, residents paused in silent reflection, comforting one another with an arm round the shoulder or a gentle pat to suggest that everything would eventually be all right.

Cuddly teddy bears were also left and pictures of the two young girls, taken shortly before they vanished on August 4, were attached to many of the gifts.

Positioned between the bars of the gate leading into the church, one message seemed apologetic in tone.

''I wish I could have been there in your hour of need,'' it read.

Inside the doorway of the church a visitors' book has now been turned into an unofficial book of condolence, which was filling up fast with moving tributes to the girls.

And flow of local residents arriving to pay their respects show no signs of abating.