A sea of floral tributes was today left outside the Gala Bingo club in Colchester where bomb blast victims Andrea Dykes and John Light worked.

The moving messages came from both friends and colleagues unable to come to terms with the tragic snuffing-out of the young lives.

Among the moving messages were: "Andrea: We will remember you as you always were, beautiful, funny, and stubborn as hell! You will be forever in our thoughts and hearts."

Another card read: "For two friends ... and a small child incapable of hate - God bless."

In a message to John another read: "You will be remembered forever in our hearts as charming, intelligent, caring and most of all a true friend. You will never be forgotten and we will cherish you every day."

The club itself is preparing to mark the friends' deaths in a special way.

General manager Dave Mills said today he was waiting to speak to Mrs Dykes and Mr Light's parents for ideas on how to remember the pair officially.

He added: "John Light had worked here for seven years and was extremely well liked by all the members and particularly by the staff. Andrea was very helpful - a dizzy sort of girl, always smiling and full of the joys of spring.

"She worked here for five years and whenever anyone was down she would cheer you up with her big smile."

Meanwhile, at St Benedict's College, in Colchester, Mrs Dykes' former teachers were today also coming to terms with her death.

She left the Norman Way school in 1988 with a clutch of good exam qualifications.

Head Alan Whelan said today about a third of the staff still at the school remembered her well.

He added: "She is remembered with great fondness. Her form teacher Steve Woodhurst said she was a very cheerful, very happy girl. She was certainly well liked. It is a terrible tragedy."

Prayers were said for Mrs Dykes at the school assembly this morning. Mr Whelan today asked for Mrs Dykes's former classmates at St Benedict's to get in touch with the school to suggest a suitable memorial.

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