THE mother of Thornwood businesswoman Julie Foster has paid tribute to her daughter, who was found dead in her bed, describing her as a happy person who just loved life.

Cindy Lloyd was speaking on the BBC Crimewatch programme which was broadcast on Thursday evening, just hours before a 44-year-old man was arrested in connection with Mrs Foster's death.

Kim Wassell, of Wightwick, Wolverhampton, was arrested on Friday morning and taken to Harlow police station for questioning.

He was later charged with the murder of Mrs Foster, who was killed at her home in Elsenham, near Stansted.

Mrs Foster, 41, ran the Blake Hall Pet shop at the Happy Grow Nursery off High Road, Thornwood.

Mrs Lloyd said: "She was very, very happy on top of the world. She was a people person, she just loved life. She worked so hard and it was all for her boys. She absolutely idolised her boys."

Mrs Foster, who originally came from Wolverhampton, was killed while she slept in the early hours of Tuesday, July 10.

Her body was found by her younger son, eight-year-old Jay, who heard the killer's footsteps on the stairs in the middle of the night.

Mrs Foster, 41, was separated from husband Eric who lived with her other son, Scott, 15.

Mr Wassell was arrested by detectives from the Essex Police Major Investigations Team based at Harlow police station and appeared before Harlow magistrates on Monday.

Police said the arrest was not a direct result of any calls made to the Crimewatch programme.

A police spokeswoman confirmed that Mr Wassell, a freight handler, had been arrested on the day of the killing but later released without charge.

Mr Wassell, dressed in a light green suit, sat with his head bowed throughout the court hearing.

An application for bail was refused and Mr Wassell was remanded in custody to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday (October 9).

Peter Richards, for the defence, indicated that Mr Wassell would plead not guilty to the charge.

October 4, 2001 11:18