Police have internet lead in hunt for girls

SIGNIFICANT new leads have emerged after detectives searching for Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman studied a computer the girls used before they disappeared, police said yesterday.

Detective Supt David Hankins said he was convinced they were still alive and appealed directly to anyone who may be holding them. Officers are working on the possibility that the girls might have been lured away by someone they contacted through email possibly on an internet chatroom.

Mr Hankins yesterday released four photographs of the Chapman family on holiday in Minorca, Spain last week and said: "You can see from these photographs how happy the family was on holiday. "Do not let these pictures become some of the last pictures the family have to remember Jessica by."

Jessica had gone to deliver a present to Holly shortly after returning from holiday and vanished a few hours later.

Mr Hankins said the girls had been using Holly's computer between 5.11pm and 5.35pm on Sunday, just before they disappeared. He told reporters in the girls' home town of Soham, Cambridgeshire: "There are a number of lines of inquiries as a result of the examination of the computer. They are significant and hopefully they will help to progress the inquiry."

He was also unable to say whether anyone had been in touch as a result of an initial appeal last night to any abductor. Mr Hankins urged everyone in Britain to be on the lookout for the girls. He was also unable to say whether anyone had been in touch as a result of an initial appeal last night to any abductor. Mr Hankins urged everyone in Britain to be on the lookout for the girls

"We think the girls are still alive. We don't know where they are. We suspect they are with this abductor," he said.

The girls, both white, about 4ft 6in tall and slim, were wearing distinctive red Manchester United shirts with the name Beckham and the number seven on the back when last seen.They were also both wearing dark trousers and white Nike trainers.

But Mr Hankins pointed out that their appearance could now be different and he urged anyone to report the slightest suspicion.

On Thursday night, the man leading the search, Acting Detective Superintendent David Beck, made a direct appeal to anyone holding the girls to give themselves up.

This morning Mr Hankins again appeal and urged any abductor to think about the long-term consequences. He said police had decided to make the direct appeal after taking advice from a criminal psychologist.