ALTHOUGH police say the search for missing Victoria Mann is still on-going friends and work colleagues are assuming the worst.

Victoria worked for the Dorset Children's Hospice Julia's House since January 2006.

Martin Edwards chief executive of Julia's House said: "She was a very valued member of staff for Julia's House. She looked after children not expected to live until adulthood. She was an excellent carer.

"We are terribly sad that she is no longer with us we help families in West Dorset looking after children with life limiting and life threatening conditions.

"The relationship between carers and children is at the heart of the support we give. Her disappearance is a terrible loss not only to us but to the families she has been supporting.

"The job takes somebody with tremendous passion and commitment, somebody who wants the world to be a better place. We support families through terrible circumstances - these are some of the most stressed families of all in the whole country. Carers go into those families and almost become one of the family."

He added that there were safety nets and support for staff to support them to cope with the pressures of the job, Chris Warne, used to work with Victoria and post a tribute on the News website saying: "She was highly respected by me. I'm a child in care and used to work with Victoria in the children's rights service and this story and development has had quite an impact. I know that Victoria's friends and family shall feel a great loss."

Another young person who worked with Victoria says she cannot believe Victoria would have done anything to harm herself.

Imogene Kellard said: "I am also a young person in care and worked closely with Vikky since the launch of Children's Rights Society.

"I am very upset and confused about this. I want to know what happened as I was good friends with Vikky and know that she would never purposely do anything to harm herself.

"My condolences go out to her family and others who were close to her."

The search was heightened last week after a number plate from her car was found on the beach.

A police and coastguard operation discovered the number plate on the shore near West Bexington, 6km from where a car was suspected to have plunged off the cliff in Burton Bradstock.

A shoe, which may or may not have belonged to Victoria, and more of her car was also found in the vicinity of Abbotsbury and West Bexington.

Victoria, 26, was last seen enjoying a night out on the town on Saturday, October 27, before getting into her blue Ford Ka, registration number V983 PER.

Victoria's disappearance was linked to a damaged bollard and debris at the top of a cliff that witnesses had reported the day after she went missing.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the helicopter has assisted the police search and rescue bid but the operation had now stopped as it was unlikely to find a body this long after a disappearance.

Operations manager Chief Inspector Alan Jenkins, who is in charge of overseeing both the missing persons and road traffic collision inquiries said both were on going.

He said: "I continue to have an open mind and am obliged to continue both inquiries simultaneously.

"It will be necessary to review whether we enter a new phase with regard to the search for Victoria as in any missing persons inquiry.

"Dorset Police are still continuing to search for debris on the beach which is being supported by regular flyovers of the Dorset Police helicopter.

"The traffic officers are also continuing forensic analysis of items found by, or handed to, the police believed to come from her vehicle.

"Our thoughts are very much with the family. We will continue to seek to do everything we can to bring closure to this sad incident.