Two small black shoes near St. David's shoreline were the only tangible clues to the mysterious disappearance of a four-year-old girl two years ago.

Chaona Woolridge was in her Sunday school clothes when she went missing from her Cove Valley home on April 5, 1992, a Coroner heard yesterday.

And despite two hours of testimony from Chaona's family, teachers and Police, the Wor. Cheryl Ann Mapp was left with few clues to shed light on the little girl's disappearance.

At least three more witnesses remain to be heard when the hearing resumes on Monday morning.

Yesterday, Mr. John Woolridge told the Coroner that Chaona was the second of his three daughters.

Mr. Woolridge said that because of Down's Syndrome, Chaona had physical and mental disabilities. She liked to play with rocks and sticks but was unable to walk long distances.

On the morning she disappeared, Mr. Woolridge said he left her downstairs in their Cove Lane home while he went up to change his shirt.

"I could hear my other daughter playing the keyboard,'' he said.

"Normally I could hear the door being opened, but I did not hear anyone leave.

"My wife was ironing in her bedroom. I went downstairs to the kitchen and I did not see her.

"While we were going to the car I asked my wife where Chaona was. We shouted out her name but she did not answer.'' Mr. Woolridge said he drove around to his sister's home nearby, but she was not there. He then drove around the area, including the water front, asking people if they had seen Chaona.

Ms Beverly Trott said she saw Chaona around 9.45 a.m. while she and her brother Steven were walking to St. Luke's Church for Sunday School.

"I saw a little girl in a pink dress and black shoes,'' she said. "I recognised her but carried on. She was walking up the road. The second time I looked she was gone. She had not followed me to Sunday School.'' P.c. Martin Wiggs said he found Chaona'a black shoes behind the house of Mrs.

Relda Wellman at 33 Cove Valley Road. He said he went onto the property because no one appeared to be home. One shoe was at the bottom of the stairs and the other was a little further ahead. The water further on, he said, was rough.

Chaona's father said earlier that he had checked behind the Wellman home but had not seen the shoes.

Chaona's physiotherapist, Mrs. Sandra Thornhill, and nursery school teacher Mrs. Andalyn Swan told the court that Chaona was capable of taking off her shoes. They also said she was fascinated by water and her environment.

Mrs. Swan said Chaona's balance was weak. She was capable of walking down steps though she could lose control easily.

Coroner's officer, Sgt. Rex Osborne, asked if Chaona was capable of walking down the steps behind the Wellman home. Mrs. Swan said that Chaona would often sit down and descend steps that way. The inquest continues on Monday.