Essex Police today denied that they failed to act on a tip-off, which has led to the first major breakthrough in the Soham missing girls case.

Taxi driver Ian Webster has come forward saying he saw a man driving out of Soham and struggling with two girls on the night Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman disappeared.

A suggestion that the information was first given to officers in our county while he was holidaying here have been denied by Essex Police, who said he called in while staying in north Wales.

The ten-year-olds have been missing for more than a week and fear of abduction has sparked a nationwide appeal for information.

At least 30 officers from Essex are assisting CID and ground searches around Soham.

Published Tuesday August 13, 2002

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