A secondary school head teacher in Soham has spoken of the "horror" of the last few weeks since the deaths of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

Howard Gilbert, principal at Soham Village College, is holding a series a meetings with staff and parents as his Cambridgeshire school prepares for the autumn term to begin.

The word horrific is over-used but I think I have discovered what it means in the last few weeks

Howard Gilbert, principal of Soham Village College

Best friends Holly and Jessica were pupils at neighbouring St Andrew's primary school in the town.

Their bodies were found on 17 August, almost two weeks after they went missing from Soham.

Ian Huntley, 28, a former caretaker at the college, is being held at Rampton secure hospital charged with the girls' murders.

His girlfriend Maxine Carr, 25, has been accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

'Return to normality'

The college's principal Mr Gilbert said: "I long to walk across the playground with children getting on with the school day, having a laugh and having some sort of normality."

Holly's brother and Jessica's sister are both pupils at the college.

He said it was hard to imagine "a much worse scenario than the one we are having to deal with".

"The word horrific is over-used but I think I have discovered what it means in the last few weeks," he added.

The police search for evidence at both schools continues.

Education officials are preparing contingency plans, such as the use of mobile classrooms, in case pupils cannot return next month.

	:	Holly and Jessica
Maps showing focus of the investigation

Mr Gilbert said: "The main thing for me now is to get the school back to some form of normality.

"I have always stressed the importance of community to pupils and the importance of that has become very clear in the last few weeks."

Counselling provided

Staff have already met to discuss how best to prepare for the new term.

"We have had calls from staff in different parts of the world and it's been very difficult."

Mr Gilbert: Community support vital

He hopes the school will be open in time for the start of the new term on 6 September or soon afterwards.

The primary school is due to start back the following Monday.

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesman said specialist counsellors and psychologists would be on hand to help staff and pupils.

The principal's comments came after the head teacher of St Andrew's said it was time for the community to move on.

In an open letter on Sunday, Geoff Fisher said the school would make sure the two girls would never be forgotten.

An inquest has heard that police still do not know how or when the girls were killed.

A special memorial service at Ely Cathedral, to be attended by 2,000 invited guests, is due to be held.