A VICAR yesterday condemned the ''devilish influence'' in society when

he conducted a memorial service for little Sophie Hook, who was found

murdered a week ago.

Canon Trevor Davies told a congregation in Colwyn Bay, North Wales,

which included seven-year-old Sophie's parents and family: ''We are all

here with one purpose: to show we are a body of people who care.

''We are a body of people who love and a body of people who are

prepared to support people in distress.''

Canon Davies said the 300-strong congregation at St Paul's Church of

Wales was a microcosm of society outside.

''But outside there is also an influence -- thankfully one that one

rarely finds in church -- an influence devilish in origin which condemns

people to exploit the vulnerable, murder the helpless, mug the elderly,

frighten the stranger, to be a law unto themselves,'' he said.

''Is there any wonder at all that people are generally frightened,

that they can't understand what is happening in their society?''

Sophie, of Great Budworth, Cheshire, was found dead on the beach at

nearby LLandudno a week ago yesterday. A 30-year-old local man, Howard

Hughes, appeared in court on Friday charged with her murder.

In the congregation, which included many children, were Sophie's

parents, Chris, 37, and Julie, 34. They walked into the stone-built

church hand-in-hand with their other children, Jemma, 9, Joseph, 5, and

carrying baby Ellie, 21 months.

Canon Davies greeted them at the church door. He kissed Mrs Hook and

shook her husband's hand. Mr Hook is a sales manager and his wife a

supply teacher.

Also there were Sophie's aunt and uncle, Danny and Fiona Jones, and

their children Luke, 9, Alex, 6, Jacob, 4, and two-year-old Callum. Mrs

Jones is Julie Hook's sister.

Sophie was camping in 39-year-old Mr Jones's garden when she was

abducted and murdered.

Mrs Hook's parents, Pearl and Mike Roberts, were also among other

relatives present yesterday. They joined local people in the large, airy

85-year-old church which dominates the popular seaside resort.

The two detectives who led the hunt, Superintendent Eric Jones and

Chief Inspector John Williams, went along with their families.

Canon Davies told the congregation: ''Let us make this service as

happy as we can.''

He said of Sophie's family: ''Here this morning they have forgotten

their sadness because they have come here as representatives of all the

families outside who have fallen innocent victims of people who decided

to live outside the law to satisfy their own selfish grievances, urges,

and desires.''

Canon Davies added: ''Last Sunday's nightmare experience is so

haunting, they (Sophie's family) will continue to remember it all their

lives. And the experience of being kissed by vivacious, fun-loving

Sophie is one that will be remembered for a lifetime.''

During the service, which lasted nearly 90 minutes, a collection was

made for the Sophie Hook Memorial Fund.

Her funeral will be held next Friday at Great Budworth.

Villagers at Great Budworth, near Northwich, Cheshire, where the Hook

family are regular worshippers at the parish church, remembered Sophie

in their prayers yesterday.

The congregation of 41, including families with young children and

toddlers, heard the vicar, the Rev Derek Mills, speak of the Hook family

and their grief.

Mr Mills, who arrived back at the twelfth-century church from a

working holiday in Germany on Monday, the day after Sophie's body was

found, relayed a message from her parents, Julie and Chris Hook,

thanking the congregation for its support.

''They would love to be here but feel it is more appropriate they go

over to north Wales where there is a service for Sophie. I am sure our

prayers are with them in their grief,'' he said.

* Police were continuing their widespread search yesterday for the

murder weapon that killed 13-year-old Northern Ireland schoolboy Darren

Fawns.

The RUC scoured a golf course in Antrim, near Lough Neagh, for the

second time in in 24 hours as the hunt continued for his killer.

The body of Darren, from Repulse Court, Antrim, has still not been

released by the authorities, so the funeral -- originally planned for

today -- cannot go ahead.