IT was the telephone call she had been living in fear of. As Paula Clennell's fraught sister spoke exclusively to an Evening Star reporter, she received a call from a distraught relative who broke the horrifying news that the Suffolk spree killer had struck again.

IT was the telephone call she had been living in fear of.

As Paula Clennell's fraught sister spoke exclusively to an Evening Star reporter, she received a call from a distraught relative who broke the horrifying news that the Suffolk spree killer had struck again.

Her sister, who did not want to be identified, had been beginning to make a heartfelt plea for information as to her younger sibling's whereabouts following her disappearance on Sunday night.

But as the relative passed on news of the macabre finds at Levington, hope drained from Miss Clennell's sister's face, with floods of tears pouring from her already reddened eyes.

As the constant stream of 24-hour television news beamed information into her living room, the sister revealed the torment her family has been through as the search for Miss Clennell continued.

Being comforted by her husband and surrounded by her young children, she said: “We're just hoping and praying that she returns safely.

“We used to meet up in town but I had not seen her for several months.

“I hope she's ok. She's a lovely girl and I just want to know she is safe and well.”

Sadly, any hopes for the ending she was praying for were dashed as the news thundered into her home that police had found two more bodies and that the natural assumption would be that they would be the missing women Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls.

It is believed Miss Clennell's chaotic lifestyle began with her descent into drugs several years ago.

Her sister said Miss Clennell had, as the new picture of her shows, enjoyed happier times, but had fallen off the rails after becoming involved with the wrong crowd.

Miss Clennell lived with her older sister and her family at different times, but as her addiction took hold she left and moved to various addresses in Ipswich.

Her sister revealed that the nightmare of her disappearance had been made even tougher by the relentless hounding of her family by the national media.

A former school friend of Miss Clennell has also spoken of her shock at the disturbing developments in the gruesome murder case.

Kate Jackson, from Ipswich, said the pair had become close when they were at Westbridge Pupil Referral Unit in Ipswich's London Road together.

She said: “We were friends when we were about 15, but then we lost contact when I moved away.

“I was living in a children's home at the time and she was living with her sister.

“When I came back I didn't really see her anymore, but I knew she had got into drugs.

“She was a really funny girl. We always had a bit of a laugh together.

“It's such a shock to see her on television. I feel so awful for her.”

Are you friends with Paula Clennell? Do you want to pay tribute to her? Contact The Evening Star on 01473 324840 or e-mail starnews@eveningstar.co.uk