Shoppers cheered and clapped when a Tesco store announced that missing ten-year-olds Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells had been found. But they were appalled when they found that the announcement was a blunder.

The message came over the in-store Tannoy at the High Woods store, Colchester.

It said that the girls, who went missing from Soham, Cambs, eight days ago, had been found safe.

But when Friday's shoppers returned home and saw the news on TV, they realised Tesco had got it wrong and that police were no closer to finding them.

One woman shopper, from Colchester, said: "The Tannoy said they were back with their parents and had come to no harm.

"We were all so pleased and there was lots of chatter and laughing and I raced home to watch the news.

"There was nothing new on it though and the parents were still desperate. I was sickened by the lie we'd been told."

A spokesman for the Tesco store today said that a customer had told staff the girls had been found and "they had got caught up in the moment".

"This should never have happened. Announcements are rare and always go through a manager. We can't apologise enough for the upset we've caused."

Staff were unsure if the woman who told the assistant was a hoaxer but will not be taking the matter further.

Published Monday August 12, 2002

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