PRAYERS for the family of Julie Foster, the Elsenham mother-of-two who was murdered while she slept, were said at her funeral, which was held at the village's St Mary's Church last Wednesday.

Mrs Foster's two sons, Jay, eight, and Scott, 15, her estranged husband Eric, and her parents Cindy and Frank, were joined by more than 100 mourners for the service, before making their way to a private service at Parndon Wood Crematorium in Harlow.

Jay , who heard the killer climbing the stairs in the early hours of Tuesday, July 10, and found his mother's body later that morning, read a prayer and Mrs Foster's friend, Lisa Seymour, read a poem.

Among the floral and written tributes to Mrs Foster, 41, was one from Jay which read: "In loving memory of dear Mum, miss you lots, love you always, love Jay."

A horse-drawn hearse carried Mrs Foster's coffin to the church for the service which was taken by Rev Dick Farr and included the hymns Amazing Grace and The Lord's My Shepherd.

Rev Farr described Mrs Foster's death as a "waste" and led prayers for the family and for the police officers seeking her killer.

Speaking after the service, senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Ian McNeill said police were currently looking for two people seen near Mrs Foster's home in Gilbey Cottages, Stansted Road.

They want to trace the driver of a red L-reg Ford Transit van with a 'children crossing' sign in the back window, which was seen to leave the alleyway behind the cottages at 2am on the morning Mrs Foster was killed.

The other man being sought was seen using a mobile phone in the Leigh Drive area, near Mrs Foster's home, at around 8pm on July 9 and at roughly the same time on July 10.

These potential witnesses, or anyone who knows who they are, should contact the incident room on 01279 641188.

A man arrested in connection with the killing was later released without charge.

August 29, 2001 9:35