search for four-year-old Chaona Woolridge continued.

Chaona, who has Down's syndrome, was last seen by her parents, John and Donna Woolridge, at their Cove Valley Drive home around 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Chaona, the second of three children, was wearing a pale pink dress with a white print pattern, white stockings and black shoes.

Both parents were too distraught to speak with The Royal Gazette yesterday.

But Chief Insp. Winston Esdaille, who is heading the investigation confirmed that a pair of shoes -- believed to belong to the little girl -- was found near the water off the Cove Valley area, some distance from Chaona's home.

And he said: "We're getting reports that people have seen her. Detectives are following these up''.

A US Navy helicopter and a team of Police divers combed the chilly waters near Cove Point and Fresh-Water Cave yesterday as teams of area residents, guided by Police, searched from house to house in Cove Valley.

"I feel so helpless,'' said Mrs. Jane Smith who came from Southampton with her two sons, 13-year-old Roger and 12-year-old Trevor, to search for the missing three-foot five-inch tall, light-brown skinned girl.

"We will devote the day to searching for the girl.'' Mrs. Smith, who does not know the Woolridges, said: "I have a four-year-old daughter and if it was her, I don't know what I'd do. I just wanted to come and help out''.

Mrs. Smith said after hearing about Chaona Sunday night, she dreamt that her daughter was missing.

"I just want to do something,'' she said, nervously wringing her hands.

Like Mrs. Smith, there were other parents who brought out their children on the first day of their Easter break to brave dipping temperatures in search of Chaona.

Mrs. Suzanne Pitcher, with her two daughters Sheila and Tiffanie, were out scouring the area with other neighbours shortly after sunrise.

"We feel helpless,'' Mrs. Pitcher said. "But we were out looking yesterday and we've looked today.'' Mrs. Pitcher, her children, and neighbours Mrs. Rosemary Phillips and Mrs.

Linda Gailliot spent the early hours of yesterday tracking through the trees and searching derelict buildings in the St. David's Head area.

As they were doing this teams of neighbours and church groups, organised by the Police, searched pump rooms and tanks of private dwellings.

"We'll just keep looking as we did yesterday,'' said Mrs. Pitcher. PHOTO SEARCHING FOR CHAONA -- Cove Valley, St. David's residents yesterday tirelessly combed the St. David's Head area for any signs of missing four-year-old Chaona Woolridge (inset). Pictured, from left, are eight-year-old Sheila Pitcher, her mother Mrs. Suzanne Pitcher, Mrs. Rosemary Phillips, Mrs. Linda Gailliot in hooded jacket, and 11-year-old Tiffanie Pitcher.