Bank takes over Foster tragedy home

The country home of Shropshire family murderer Chris Foster is now in the hands of his mortgage lender, his family said today.

But it is not yet known what will happen to the charred remains of £1.15million Osbaston House in Maesbrook.

• See also Foster tragedy archive

The property was handed over to Foster's family after the huge police probe came to an end.

The house was destroyed after Foster killed his wife and daughter, set fire to the house and then killed himself.

The businessman's mother, Enid Foster, of Church Stretton, today said the property had been passed to her for only a few days as part of the legal process, before HSBC had taken it on.

Mrs Foster said the house did not have any connection to her or her younger son, Andrew.

Foster is understood to have filled the house with fuel and then set fire to it as he returned to be with his wife's body.

Mrs Foster said today: "As far as I know, it is not up for sale. It is not owned by me or any member of my family – it is out of our hands.

"I can tell you quite definitely the house has nothing to do with us any longer.

"It was handed to me as a technicality, because I was Christopher's next of kin, but then it was taken on by the bank."

It is not yet known what the bank will do with the property and the land.

An HSBC spokesman said the bank was not commenting at this stage.

Mrs Foster said the last 10 weeks had been a "nightmare", but praised her younger son Andrew for his never-ending support.

"We are trying to sort things out," she said. "My younger son Andrew has been absolutely wonderful – I couldn't possibly manage without him."

Foster also killed his daughter's horses and the family dogs during his rampage.

By Crime Correspondent Kirsty Smallman