THE sister of tragic Annette Poulsom faced the media yesterday to pay tribute to the woman found dead with her former boy-friend in a burning car.

Surrounded by cameras and journalists, Pauline Tredrea braved the ordeal to tell how 47-year-old Ms Poulsom, also known by her married name Thomas, was a loyal mum and sister.

And she said she could not understand how Ms Poulsom's former boyfriend Julian Maggs, 34, could have become so violent towards the woman he had loved.

Police believe the popular woman may have been murdered by her former partner of seven years Mr Maggs.

The bodies of the two were found in a burning Vauxhall Vectra near Lower Carno reservoir near Ebbw Vale last Friday.

Mrs Tredrea said: "She was a loyal mum, sister and daughter. She was more than that, she was always our best friend."

And of Mr Maggs, she added: "There was no sign of animosity. He was a lovely lad."

Yesterday, neighbours of Ms Poulsom in Coronation Street, Blaina, spoke of their shock that the deaths were a chilling echo of the death of Ms Poulsom's brother Martin 11 years ago.

Mr Poulsom's body was found in a burning car at Cwmcelyn picnic site in 1992. No suspicious circumstances surrounded that death.

Lynette Evans from Bennett Street, Blaina, who lived near Ms Poulsom, said: "It's terrible that this was in such a similar way to the way her brother died."