A KIDDERMINSTER family have paid tribute to their "caring and popular" daughter after her husband appeared in court accused of murdering her.

Louise Evans was described as a loyal friend, a devoted wife and a brilliant mother to her three girls – twins aged six and a five-year-old.

Her husband, Alan Evans, 34, was brought before Kidderminster magistrates on Wednesday charged with murdering her at their home in Stoney Lane, Kidderminster, in July last year. She was found dead there on 10 July.

His is due to appear at Worcester Crown Court today.

A tribute issued on behalf of the family by Louise’s parents, Derek and Judy Bollen, spoke of their devastation at losing her and how they were staying strong for the sake of their grandchildren who are currently living with them in the Kidderminster area.

Louise Evans, 32, was born and raised in the town along with her two elder brothers who along with most of the family still live in Wyre Forest.

She attended Franche First School and then Wolverley High School before training at Wolverhampton College of Nursing.

She was working as a carer at a home for the elderly at Kinlet up until her death.

Mr Bollen, an instructor at Chelmarsh Sailing Club, near Bridgnorth, taught his daughter dinghy sailing and they won various inter-club trophies until she stopped competing in her mid-20s to concentrate on having a family.

She and her husband had been together since their teens and they had married in 2000.

Judy Bollen said Louise was naturally quiet but enjoyed a very active social life and was very popular.

She was close to all of her family and still had many friends in the town from her school days.

She said: “Louise was a brilliant wife and mother and she was so proud of the children who are the spitting image of her. Many people think they are triplets because they look so alike and they get a lot of attention because of that.

“The tragedy is that Louise went through so much to have those girls and is now no longer here for them.

“They understand their mummy is in heaven and say that she is on one of the stars that come out at night.

“The dilemma we now have is what to tell them about the current situation. Fortunately the family has been very supportive and it’s important that everyone pulls together and that the girls have that strong family network around them.”

Derek Bollen said: “This has been a living nightmare for all of us and has turned our lives upside down. It’s been a terrible blow but we just have to deal with it.”

He said friends and neighbours had been brilliant and they were very grateful for their support and sympathy. Some of the neighbours had even bought Christmas presents for the girls.

He added: “Our focus is on our grandchildren and they have kept us going. They are the most important thing in the world for us at the moment.”