Friends of Kirstie in chapel service

Classmates of murdered teenager Kirstie Foster were set to hold a chapel service at Ellesmere College today to mark the start of term.

See also: Foster mansion tragedy

Schoolfriends of the 15-year-old arrived back at the college for the new academic year today.

Kirstie is believed to have been killed by her father, Chris Foster, 50, before he shot her mother Jill, set fire to their family home in Maesbrook and killed himself.

A team of counsellors and medical professionals are at the school to offer support to grieving students, and a special service dedicated to Kirstie is being planned for the coming days.

Teachers at the college are also planning to plant a tree and dedicate a plaque to Kirstie, who would have been starting Year 11 this week and was due to take her GCSEs next summer.

Brendan Wignall, college headteacher, has described Kirstie as a "charming" girl.

"She was a really nice girl, always cheerful and positive," he said. "Everyone liked her, no-one disliked her and she was very polite and kind."

The teenager had represented the £16,500-a-year college in horse shows and competitions, as well as playing for its netball, hockey and tennis teams.

Police have confirmed two of the bodies recovered from the Fosters' burned-out home of Osbaston House as Kirstie's parents, and say they strongly believe a third body, found in a different part of the house, is Kirstie's.