BUCKET BOMBER DRAMA AS TERROR RAID AT FOSTER HOME Couple cared for refugee kids

“Penny has such a big heart. She helps anyone who needs it. She used to run a youth centre. She just loves children.”

Penny, 71, who with Ron received an MBE in 2009 for services to fostering, uses her Facebook to proudly display some of the children.

One picture shows three teenagers enjoying a cup of tea and smiling inside her home.

And on her Facebook page she even paid tribute to the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks.

Penny has previously spoken of the work she puts into caring for the foreign refugees she fosters with her 88- year- old husband by teaching youngsters British values. Friend Nikki Nicholas said: “They’re a wonderful couple who have lived at that address ever since they were married. “I spent 20 years on this street and they’re loved and respected by everyone. They’re an amazing couple who would do anything for anyone. “I know they housed refugees for social services for years. They’re old but so kind. They don’t deserve this. “They took on troubled kids and changed their lives for the better.” More than 400 neighbours in Sunbury- on-Thames, Surrey, were evacuated from their homes for several hours as specialist cops wearing forensic uniforms scoured for clues. Some were told they had just a minute to get out. The property being searched is on the train line up to Wimbledon, South West London, which links directly with the District Line tube to Parsons Green en route to central London locations including Westminster. On Friday passengers had to flee in terror after a crude bucket bomb packed with nails and screws ignited on the rush-hour service. The bomb, encased in a Lidl cool bag, could have unleashed a deadly blast that would have killed dozens had it fully detonated at 8.20am.

Nicola Rider, 43, who lives opposite the property, said: “Police went to the house last week, but I don’t know why.

“Penny and Ron are fantastic people – really caring. They’ve always been friendly to me.

“Penny is quite eccentric. She has lilac highlights in her hair and their house is painted lilac too.

“I was out when the police came but my partner was in and he said armed police knocked on the door and told him to get out. It’s been a really frightening experience.”

Neighbour Sindi Xaba, 26, who was evacuated with her husband and son, said: “We were told there were explosives in a back garden but they didn’t say where.

Worrying

“We were told it was close by. It is worrying for us.”

Stacey Wakenshaw, 32, who grew up on the street, said: “I’ve known them since I was about nine – you couldn’t find a more lovely couple. They’ve been fostering as