The service was held at St James's Church in Bushey in memory of Carol Hunt, 61, wife of BBC 5 Live racing commentator John Hunt, and two of their daughters, Hannah, 28, and Louise, 25, who were found fatally injured in Ashlyn Close on Tuesday evening.

Lea Holloway, 60, said she had known Mrs Hunt since she was 16 and described her friend as a “beautiful person”. 

Childhood friend of Carol Hunt, Lea Holloway, described her as a beautiful person. (Image: PA) “We grew up together and were pregnant at the same time,” she said. “I was there the night she met John. It was in a nightclub in Hemel Hempstead. 

“Carol and I used to have this running joke that John had asked me for a dance and I said no, so he moved to Carol instead. We always joked about it.”

Tearful mourners leave the service at St James church in Bushey. (Image: Newsquest)  She said the attack had been “the stuff of nightmares”, adding: “I really miss her and I can’t believe this has happened. She was a really, really lovely girl.

Rector of Bushey Father David Stevenson leads the vigil. (Image: PA) “She was the nicest, kindest, sweetest person you could ever meet. I just feel for their oldest daughter and John, I can’t imagine what it would be like.”

Father David Stevenson said it had been a powerful service. (Image: Newsquest)

Speaking outside St James's Church, Lea and friends Dionne Smith, 58, and Abigail Phillips, 58, said: “She was a lovely, lovely person. We can’t believe what happened.

“We were a four, and now there’s only three. It doesn’t seem real.

"We are together in grief.”

The service was led by the rector of Bushey Father David Stevenson, who estimated around 150 mourners came to St James's to attend the “powerful” vigil this morning.

Mourners at the vigil for the three victims of Bushey crossbow attack. (Image: PA)

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He said: “It was an incredible testament today to see not only friends and family but people in the community who didn’t know Carol, Hannah and Louise, but they were so touched by what went on they felt compelled to come.

Lea Holloway said Carol Hunt was the nicest, kindest, sweetest person you could ever meet. (Image: PA) “Many of the people who were leaving the church were all saying to me that they felt comfort and peace.

"Everyone will have to move through the grieving cycle but even if that peace just lasts for a moment it is a taste of what will come in the future.

Mourners pay tribute to Carol, Hannah and Louise Hunt. (Image: PA) “Our focus must be on John and his family and I can’t even imagine how they must be feeling.”