LIKE Dunblane and Lockerbie, Soham will always be a community which is synonymous with tragedy.

And today - on the first anniversary of the deaths of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman - that tragedy will inevitably rise to the surface.

It is right that we all stop to remember Holly and Jessica today - but in a way which is in keeping with the dignity and sense of community shown by the people of Soham themselves.

It is, of course, entirely natural for people to wish to show their respects for two beautiful little girls who lost their lives in such shocking circumstances. But it can be done from a distance.

Appreciative as they are of the messages of condolence and support from around the world, the family and friends of the ten-year-olds have asked visitors to stay away from the village, and that request must be respected.

It is clear from the words of the vicar of Soham, the Reverend Tim Alban Jones, and local primary school headteacher, Geoff Fisher, that the community is steadily moving forward.

It has found the balance between remembering what happened and rediscovering normality.

The hardest test of that community spirit is yet to come with the forthcoming trial of Ian Huntley and Maxine Carr. One of the most heartbreaking court cases in living memory will be truly hard to bear.

In the meantime, the people of Soham must be allowed to continue the healing process in as much peace as possible.

Cricket woes

IT has been a disastrous start to the new era of Michael Vaughan as England's cricket captain.

The contrast in the performances of England and South Africa has been shocking and Vaughan has his work cut out to close the gap.

But at least defeat did not come without a fight thanks to the thunderous efforts of Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff, who is at last beginning to live up to his undoubted promise as a bar-emptying all-rounder of the highest order.

We have the makings of a true swashbuckling British hero. All we need now is a team to go with him.