The distraught family of mum-to-be Andrea Dykes yesterday told how she and husband Julian had been planning for their unborn baby's future.

Stepfather Trevor Hogg, 48, and Andrea's mother, Frances, 50, were being comforted at their home in Boyles Court, Colchester. She was too distressed to speak about the tragedy.

Mr Hogg said: "We first saw about the bomb on the television news and then heard that Julian was in hospital and Andrea was missing.

"We phoned the number for the information bureau and gave Andrea's details but didn't hear anything for a few hours," said Mr Hogg.

"Then at around 7am on Saturday we received a knock on the door from detectives saying that there was a very good chance that the dead woman was Andrea."

Mr Hogg received confirmation of the appalling news from Julian's parents who carried out the formal identification of Mrs Dykes's body.

"Up until that time we were hanging onto the sliver of hope that it might not be her," said Mr Hogg.

He added: "They were very much a loving couple and were planning a bright future for themselves and the baby."

Mrs Dykes had been three months pregnant.

"Andrea and Julian had bought lots of stuff such as a pram in preparation for the new arrival and had begun stripping the wallpaper in the spare room to get it ready."

John Light, who met the couple while they worked at Colchester's Gala Club bingo hall and had been best man at their wedding in 1997, had bought them tickets to watch the Abba musical Mama Mia at London's West End.

Mr Light had been an assistant manager at the Gala Club and was appointed manager at the Wokingham branch five months ago.

Mr Hogg, who works at Betts, Colchester, said: "John was over the moon at being chosen as the baby's godparent and bought the tickets for them as a mark of gratitude."

He added: "They stopped off for a drink before the show and that is when the bomb went off. Apparently Andrea took the full force of blast."

Mr Hogg said: "Julian was absolutely over the moon at becoming a dad. He had a scan of the baby and had put it on to his computer."

Andrea's sister, Natalie, 22, said: "They were the perfect loving couple. It just clicked from the first moment they met. They were totally and utterly devoted to each other and were looking forward to going out in London.

She said the couple were set to get a mortgage on a new house and added: "This should have been a very happy time for them. Instead it has ended in tragedy."

The relationship began while Julian, now a computer programmer, worked at the Osborne Street club during his holidays from university in Hertfordshire.

Fighting back the tears, Natalie said: "I feel nothing but hatred for the people who did this. Andrea and I were very close and we loved going out clubbing and doing all sorts of things together."

Andrea, who went to St Benedict's College, also had a brother, Martin. Natalie added: "Andrea and Julian were the ideal couple and doted upon each other. They couldn't bear being apart from each other and she would travel up to college at every available moment to see him."

"They loved going out together and had a close circle of friends. They also went to the gym at Colchester Leisure World together and enjoyed taking their dog for walks."

Mr Hogg said: "I haven't even considered what I think about the bombers. All I can think about at the moment is Julian. He has lost his wife and his baby. It is just so terrible for him."

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