A COMMUNITY was left in deep shock and trauma after the tragic deaths of Kate Wasyluk and Emma Harold in February.

A COMMUNITY was left in deep shock and trauma after the tragic deaths of Kate Wasyluk and Emma Harold in February.

Dozens of floral tributes were left on the pavement by the collapsed garden wall in Foxhall Road where the terrible crash occurred.

The flowers and cards mounted up as the days passed.

The wall was destroyed by the impact of the car, left in shattered pieces for weeks as the scene was turned into a shrine to the women.

Scores of people who knew them stopped by to lay flowers while strangers felt compelled to pay their respects and looked on in sadness at the site where so many lives were ruined.

Work friends of both Kate, of Irlam Road, who was employed by Churchhill Insurance in Crown Street, and Emma, of Foxhall Road, who worked in the claims division at Willis, were among those who left touching messages.

Old school friends from Copleston High and family members also lay flowers, while some wrote poignant messages about how much the women were loved and were going to be missed.

Hundreds of people attended their funerals to bid a final farewell, including the only survivor of the crash, Emma's sister, Rebecca.

The lasting effects of that February night continue to affect the families on a daily basis. For Rebecca, the emotional and physical scars will last a lifetime.

She dislocated her right shoulder and suffered two broken bones in her lower leg, facial injuries and bruising to her brain. She was in hospital for seven weeks.

Rebecca continues to receive treatment at Ipswich Hospital for an open wound along with regular sessions of physiotherapy.

She has trouble sleeping due to her physical injuries and the emotional impact the tragedy has had. Although she can use crutches to walk in familiar surroundings, she still has to rely on a wheelchair at times.

Rebecca was among the family members present for the unveiling of a bench at Willis in May, which was dedicated to Emma's memory.

Pay your tributes to Kate and Emma - write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk