Holly's parents thank Beckham and Fergie

The parents of Holly Wells have thanked Manchester United’s David Beckham and boss Sir Alex Ferguson for all the club did during the search for their daughter.

They were guests of the club, along with Holly’s brother, Oliver, aged 12, at last night’s game against Hungarian team Zalaegerszeg.

A Manchester United spokesman said: “They asked us if they could come and say thank you for what we did during the search for their daughter. They were our guests in the directors’ box and they met Sir Alex Ferguson after the game.”

Holly and Jessica Chapman were wearing red Manchester United shirts with Beckham’s name and his team number seven, emblazoned across their backs when they disappeared from their homes three weeks ago.

Two days after the girls disappeared Beckham made a televised appeal for them to come home.

The entire squad and manager Sir Alex Ferguson, also appealed for people to come forward with information during the search.

At the away fixture in Hungry a huge pitch-side advertising hoarding appealing for information on Holly and Jessica was seen by millions of TV viewers.

After the girl’s bodies were discovered Beckham and his team led the nation in a minute’s silence in memory of the girls.

The England captain later dedicated his first goal of the season to Holly and Jessica.