The sense of sorrow which greeted confirmation that missing schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were dead was also felt by police officers who led the search for them over the past fortnight, the officer leading them said last night.
Cambridgeshire Police's acting deputy chief constable, Mr Keith Hoddy, said an enormous effort involving hundreds of police officers, supported by civilians and scores of experts, to trace the girls since they were reported missing in their home village of Soham on August 4th meant they felt the sorrow "acutely".
"We, like the families, refused to give up hope that the girls would be found alive and well.
"Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Holly's parents and brother and Jessica's parents and sisters at this ghastly time," he said.
"Holly's and Jessica's families continue to be supported by trained family liaison officers at this, the bleakest of moments. They are being given every possible support and this support will continue in the days, weeks and months to come," he added.
Addressing a large media presence, he said now was the time to respect the grief of Holly's and Jessica's families and he asked the media to respect their need for privacy.
Mr Hoddy also called on the media to consider withdrawing from Soham at this stage.
"The people of Soham have had their daily lives turned upside down by the presence of the media during the last fortnight.
"You have all played a very important part in the hunt for Jessica and Holly and for that I thank you. But perhaps now I may invite you to consider that it may now be an appropriate time for all media representatives to withdraw from this community to allow it to come to terms with its terrible loss," he said.
After delivering his statement, Mr Hoddy and Chief Insp Andy Hebb accompanied the local vicar, the Rev Tim Alban Jones, to the parish church of St Andrew's to view the hundreds of floral tributes which had been placed at the church entrance.
The police's media consultant, Mr Matt Tapp, said that the police now wanted to ensure the families of the schoolgirls got justice.
When news broke at 7 p.m. last night that the bodies found in a wooded area of Lakenheath, Suffolk, about 15 miles away, on Saturday were almost certainly those of Holly and Jessica, a number of people visiting the local church burst into tears.
Ms Lisa Bickery said two innocent children had been taken out of the village.
"It has left the rest of the children in the village scared. I have a 10-year-old niece who won't go out unless we go with her," she said.
"Now that we know the girls are definitely dead, it's a big shock. I just feel very sorry for the parents."
Ms Karen Gillett said she had been praying all day that the bodies which had been found would not be those of Holly and Jessica.
The Rev Tim Alban Jones said the community was heartbroken. "We are all devastated now. Our worst fears have been confirmed," he said.
"People still cannot understand that this has happened. We cannot take it in. It is just too awful for our minds to contemplate that two lovely girls have been taken and now killed," he added.
He said what occurred amounted to every parent's worst nightmare and a team of professionals, including social workers, would be available to help the community.