The family of Jill Foster today said they were desperately waiting for news about her as police prepared to enter the house.

Anne Giddings, Mrs Foster’s sister, of Perton, Wolverhampton, said she had been gripped to the news coverage since she was told about the blaze at her sister’s home in Maesbrook on Tuesday.

The 57-year-old said she and her brother, Roger Doley, were desperately worried about their sister and her family.

Speaking for the first time, Mrs Giddings said: “We won’t know anything until the police go into the house and see what’s inside.”

“We are devastated. This just doesn’t happen to your own family. It’s like something you see on TV. It’s horrendous. I’m watching the news now. They are saying they are going in today, we just can’t believe it,” she added.

Mrs Giddings said the family had not heard from Mrs Foster since the fire.

Mr Doley, also from Perton, was also waiting for news about his sister.

He has already spoken about how he was “gripped with dread” when neighbours told him what had happened.

Mrs Giddings said she hoped the forensic search of the house would start today and give some answers to the family about the whereabouts of her sister, Mr Foster and the couple’s daughter Kirstie.

Mr Doley, a sales executive, said earlier this week: “When I got home and I saw a neighbour come across with her husband I was gripped with dread. I couldn’t believe what she was telling me. The police called later and said they still don’t know where the family are. The waiting is killing me.”

The Fosters are known to have attended a barbecue on Monday, just hours before the blaze took hold.

The businessman who hosted the event, but who does not want to be named, said today: “It’s just a tragic situation and we are hoping they are all somewhere else.

“They were just with us for the afternoon with other friends. Chris was fine, just his normal self – they all were.”

See also:

Dogs’ bodies at blaze mansion

Kirstie ‘on net’ before blaze

Businessman ‘risked losing £1m home’

In pictures: Scene of the mansion blaze