The mounds of earth British police feared might have been the shallow graves of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were probably badger sets, detectives said today.
As families of the missing 10-year-olds spent an agonising night waiting for news, word came through around 4am that piles of freshly-dug earth were nothing sinister.
Detective Constable Brian Stevens, one of the family liaison officers keeping the Chapmans up to date with developments and who spent last night at their home, said: "It was a very long and intense evening. There was a vigil. No one slept. There was very little conversation - it was a quiet, solemn affair.
"Just before 4am we had a call and were told that the first area was of no interest to this inquiry. It appeared to be a badger set and the second area was likely to be the same."
It was two-hours later before police completed their examination of the mounds of earth discovered by a jogger in woodland near Newmarket, and concluded they had no link to the two girls vanishing.
Mr Stevens said the news had come as a great relief.
"Various members of the family reacted in different ways. Mrs Chapman is very shocked by everything but then she comes back to the same question: well, where are they?"
PA