Three Colchester families have been devastated after losing loved ones in the London pub bombing.

Mum-to-be Andrea Dykes, 27, of Taragona Mews, Colchester, died instantly in the carnage of the Admiral Duncan pub on Friday night.

She took the full force of the blast while she was out celebrating with her husband, Julian, 26, and John Light, best man at their wedding and future godfather of their baby.

Mr Light, 32, of Mill Street, Colchester, died on Saturday from his wounds. Mr Dykes was yesterday fighting for his life in University College Hospital, London, unaware his wife had died.

Andrea's distraught mother, Frances, said yesterday: "Andrea and Julian had everything and were so happy. I just cannot believe that someone could do something like this."

Mrs Hogg said: "We just want Julian to pull through this. It is all we have left of Andrea." She added: "She was so pretty and little when she was young. She had no prejudices at all. We had brought her up that way."

Andrea's distraught stepfather Trevor Hogg told how the couple "were totally and utterly devoted to each other" and were busy planning for a bright future together.

He said: "We have been completely stunned. The family just cannot take it in." Mr Hogg added: "She was a normal little fun-loving child."

Andrea attended the Cherry Tree Primary School before going on to St Benedict's College. Mr Hogg said: "When Julian got into the hospital he was conscious and just kept saying 'Where's my wife? Where's my wife?"

"The group were standing right by the bomb and took the full brunt of it. Julian had a lot of shrapnel in his chest and lung."

He added: "At first the doctors thought he was going to lose a lung but they have managed to save it. To begin with, the emergency services could not find Andrea. She was buried under the rubble for seven hours."

The pair paid tribute to the friends and family who had supported them.

"We have had lots of people ringing and coming around to the house. The support we have received has been tremendous."

Mr Light's family said in a statement released today: "We are devastated to lose John to such a senseless act of violence."

They expressed their gratitude for the dedication and care given to John and themselves by the police and staff at University College Hospital, London.

They said: "John was a popular, loving, well-respected man who enjoyed nothing more than being with all his friends.

"They, and his labrador-greyhound cross, Ben, will miss him as much as his family will." Another friend, Gary Partridge, also of Mill Street, is currently seriously injured in Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford.

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