Ref. 30012-43A BOOK of condolence was opened in Amanda Edwards' village church yesterday to enable people to express their grief.

As Sunday worshippers filed into St Mary's, the faint peal of church bells could be heard above the driving rain.

By noon more than 50 people had signed the book, each adding their own special message.

The Rev Jane Skinner, who conducted the service at the 13th century church, attempted to offer a glimmer of hope to her 40-strong congregation.

"We sang joyful Easter hymns, which carry the message of hope," she said after the service.

"People feel vulnerable after such an horrific incident. This is a close community and I am sure people who attended today would want Amanda's family to feel part of that.

"Everywhere, people have been trying to help the family there has been a lot of praying going out to them."

The Rev John Papworth, who assists with services, said a feeling of emptiness has now descended on the village, which has about 4,000 residents. "Purton has a very powerful sense of community," he said.

"I was in the Royal George pub last night just up the road from the family home and they said it was quite incredible that somebody they knew so well could suddenly be wiped out of existence so brutally.

"They see this as an affront on their community."

Meanwhile, floral tributes continue to pour in.

Outside the building site where Amanda's body was discovered, a mound of bouquets is quickly building up.

Many are from grateful parents of children Amanda looked after in her role as a care assistant at the Little Foxes Nursery School in Brinkworth.

One read: "Amanda, our wonderful and beautiful friend, who was always so full of sweetness and light.

"Thank you for caring for our son. Always in our hearts."

Another said simply: "Amanda, I'll miss your smile Stacey."

One card read: "May God bless and keep you. From all staff at the Co-op in Malmesbury."

It was left by Alison Cross-Jones, 38, who works at the Co-op and lives round the corner from the building site.

She said: "It was our way of reaching out to the families involved and expressing our sympathy. This has touched everyone. She was quite well known among young people in the town and will be sorely missed."