THE family of a mother and son who died in a house fire have spoken of their sadness.

Marie and Norman Bagley, the aunt and uncle of retired teacher Francis Carter, who was killed in the blaze at Maydays, in Land Lane, Colchester, thanked wellwishers for their support.

Mr Carter’s 94-year-old mother, Emilie Carter, who was confined to her bed, also lost her life in the fire, in the early hours of Wednesday.

Mrs Bagley, Mrs Carter’s younger sister, who lives in Felixstowe, Suffolk, said: “I think I am feeling worse about it now than when I found out. They were very caring people.

“My nephew and I spoke not too long ago. He was remembering Emilie’s mother, who died 20 years ago, and was saying 20 years had gone so fast.

“I want to thank people for all the wonderful tributes there have been. I’ve been so overwhelmed.”

Mrs Bagley described her sister, a former hairdresser, beautician and flower arranger, as a lively woman.

She added: “Only a few weeks ago, a great grandchild arrived and my grandson called her Emmie in honour of my sister.”

Mr Bagley paid tribute to Francis, known as Frank, saying he was a well-respected figure at the St James the Less and St Helen Catholic Church, in Priory Street, where he was a reader. He had also taught at the Gilberd School.

He said: “He had a very good voice and was quite prominent in the church.

“When he taught Shakespeare at school, he was like an actor. He dressed in a cloak and raincoat and carried a briefcase. He was quite a character.”

Father Anthony McKentey, from the church, said: “The family lived in the parish for many years. Mrs Carter was involved when she was more active, but she was housebound in recent times and Francis looked after her all the time.

“He was particularly well-liked in the parish; a very kind man and a real gentleman. He was particularly proficient at mass, because he had a wonderful speaking voice.

“He retired as a teacher, but all his time was spent looking after his mother. They were inseparable in life and died together in this terrible accident. It has devastated all who knew them.”

Mrs Carter had once played a key role in the town, taking on the honorary title of Little Mayoress when her father, Arthur Middleton Jarmin, became mayor in 1917.

Maydays, a Grade II listed building, was almost destroyed in the blaze.

A body was discovered in the house on Wednesday, while a second body was found on Friday.

Neither bodies have been officially identified, but Mr Carter had not been seen since lunchtime on Tuesday and it was known Mrs Carter was bedridden.

The Carter family had lived in the house, which dates back to 1839, since the Fifties. When they bought the house, it was the only remaining farmhouse in Colchester.

Mrs Carter’s husband, Idris, a haulage contractor, died in around 1969. She lived in the house with her only son until their deaths.