probe have deluged Bermuda's Attorney General's Chambers.

And a special website dedicated to fighting for justice for Ms Middleton has logged nearly 10,000 visitors in three days.

Yesterday Ms Middleton's grieving father David said he was "very happy'' at the support being shown.

But he urged supporters to write protest letters direct to Premier Jennifer Smith -- and Governor Thorold Masefield.

Mr. Middleton said: "If she got 30,000 letters, she would have to sit up and take notice.'' Ms Smith -- yet to make a public statement on the Middleton crisis -- could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

But Tourism Minister David Allen admitted the Toronto office of the Bermuda Tourism Department had been plagued with "mostly very abusive'' phone calls -- nearly 50 in just one day.

E-mails sent to boycottbermuda.com website include many from outraged Canadians, some from Canadian nationals in Bermuda and some from Bermudians.

And the e-mails are being forwarded to Canadian politicians -- including Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

One -- from Erin Gauthier, of Borden Ontario, who lived next door to Ms Middleton when she was a child -- said: "She was the sweetest little girl I ever knew.

"Becky was always doing nice things for others and it's a shame she can do that no more.'' Others said: "I think that Canada's External Affairs Minister should lodge a letter of complaint with Bermuda and I also think that Canadians should boycott Bermuda until someone is found guilty of her murder.'' -- Reg Dunning, Canada.

"I'm sure Canadians and people everywhere will support you in this boycott against Bermuda.'' -- Mike Egan, Oakville, Ontario.

"I'm a Canadian living in Bermuda and I cannot believe the incompetence of the Attorney General. He should do time for the injustice he has done.'' -- Steve Quigg.

"I've sent an e-mail to the Bermudian authorities expressing my outrage at this legal debacle. I've also told everyone who cares to listen that we should boycott Bermuda's economy.'' -- Allan Patrick, Ontario.

"Never again will we recommend holidays in Bermuda.'' -- Charles Goodman, British Columbia.

"The blood remains on the hands of Bermuda's justice system.'' -- Helen Borovidos, Canada.

"As a Canadian with both connections to Bermuda and the Caribbean...when a semi-autonomous colony like Bermuda has such a limited population base from which to choose its people of influence and power, it's much easier for incompetent people to rise to relatively high positions.'' -- William Carter, Canada.

But Mr. Allen said that a sense of perspective had to be kept and that Bermuda remained a safe destination.

He said: "This does distort what Bermuda is all about -- that Bermuda's a very civilised place where 99.9 percent of tourists are treated very well.'' And he described the Island's image since the Middleton murder case collapsed as "a temporary setback'' which could be overcome by promoting Bermuda in Canada.