Soham: Thousands of candles lit as town pays tribute at impromptu shrine

The line began at the wrought-iron gates of St Andrew's Church at dawn. By nightfall, it had spread like a tide across the cemetery – row after row of flowers, toys and cards giving shape to a community's grief.

They had been left by a procession of mothers, teenagers, fathers and grandparents who came to the centre of Soham to show they shared the pain of two families hidden near by in their homes, bent double by an unspeakable crime.

Inside the church – a handsome medieval structure that stands at the centre of the town – hundreds of votive candles flickered for Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman on a stone altar. As each light burnt to the bottom of its wick, it was replaced by another which had been held ready by one of the dozens of residents waiting patiently in line to write messages in two books of condolence.

Such was the heat from the impromptu shrine, set below the pictures of the two girls, that the stone on which it stood was too hot to touch for more than a few moments.

The Reverend Tim Alban Jones, the vicar whose job it has been to try to give some explanation of the last 15 days not only to Soham's 9,000 people but to many far beyond, said they could not keep up. "We have got through thousands of candles," he said. "We keep running out.

"There is palpable grief in the town. It's the only thing people can talk about. We are just numb with shock."

New supplies of candles had been sought in Cambridge by a parishioner. When the shopkeeper found out they were for Soham, he waived the bill.

Such was the universal nature of the sadness which had descended like a fog on this market town, everyone wanted to contribute, no one could be seen to profit.

The floral tributes – small bunches, large bouquets, single roses – grew with every visitor. As the flowers snaked along the tree-lined paths, alongside them were laid teddy bears, fluffy dogs, helium balloons and children's toys.

One message read: "Two angels in heaven. Now let's stand united against such evil for future generations."

The need to show sympathy came from far and wide. One woman phoned the church from Australia at 8am to ask for the address. Interflora brought bouquets from Manchester, Belfast, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Birmingham and many other towns.

During the morning, Holly's parents, Nicola and Kevin Wells, walked briefly among the people in tears, standing silently or whispering, making their own pilgrimage to the church where seven days earlie they had prayed for the girls' safe return.

* Cambridgeshire police confirmed last night that a national newspaper had taken photographs of Holly Wells' parents laying flowers in memory of their daughter at the church in Soham.

The photographer was believed to be working for the Daily Mail. The newspaper's managing editor would not comment on the allegation. Newspapers had agreed that one "pool" camera would supply pictures from the town.