Over two hundred mourners flocked to a Bushey church this evening to pay their respects to the victims of the crossbow attack.

The pews of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St John the Evangelist Church in High Street were full for the vigil for Carol, 61, Hannah, 28, and Louise Hunt, 25, who died at home on Tuesday evening.

Inside the vigil at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church.Inside the vigil at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. (Image: Sacred Heart Bushey/YouTube) The BBC racing correspondent John Hunt, husband and father to the victims, did not attend the service although Hannah's partner Alex Klein was seen being comforted by attendees.

(Image: Facebook/Hannah Hunt, Louise Hunt, Carol Hunt) Leading the service, Father Jim McNicholas thanked friends and relatives of the Hunt family for coming to the “wonderful expression of communal love and caring”.

He said: “It is a good example to remember that no matter how dark things are, no matter how evil or bad, the light of love always displaces that darkness.” 

Father Jim McNicholas led the service.Father Jim McNicholas led the service. (Image: Sacred Heart Bushey/YouTube) The parish priest said that people with “goodness” in their life were “hostage to those whose lives are not”.

He added: “The Hunt family have had to pay the terrible price for someone whose life and choices were not”.

There were tears shed as well-wishers gathered outside the church after the service, but attendees could also be seen smiling and embracing each other.

Hertfordshire Police were called to a property in Ashlyn Close, Bushey, just before 7pm on Tuesday evening (July 9) and found the three women with serious injuries on arrival.

Despite the emergency services' efforts, Carol, Hannah and Louise died at the scene.

Mourner gathered outside the Sacred Heart Church following the service.Mourner gathered outside the Sacred Heart Church following the service. (Image: Newsquest) The attack saw officers conduct a manhunt across Hertfordshire and north London for the main suspect Kyle Clifford, who was apprehended in a cemetery in Enfield, near his home, on Wednesday evening.

As of Friday afternoon, police said Clifford has been arrested but remains in hospital in a serious condition.