Doorstep vigil for Julia

District residents joined those across the country in lighting candles for Julia on Tuesday evening. Julia’s daughter Bethan Coles called on people to leave candles glowing on their doorsteps in memory of her much-loved mum, at 7pm on the one-week anniversary of her death.

In a post on Facebook, Mrs Coles said she and the rest of her family decided against holding a mass vigil as such a gathering would have to be policed.

She noted they wanted police resources to instead be concentrated upon the investigation, “as there is so much work to be done”.

“This would be a beautiful nod to Mum in a way that doesn’t intrude on the police investigation,” she wrote. On Tuesday evening, Mrs Coles shared a photo of a candle lit beside a framed picture of Julia, writing: “There are no goodbyes for us, wherever you are, you will always be in my heart”.

One woman, who did not want to be named, left lit candles in lanterns outside her home in Snowdown. “It’s such an awful situation,” she told the Gazette. “We want to show our support for the family.” Candles were also lit for Julia on doorsteps in neighbouring Aylesham.

Pensioner Duncan Falconer, of Dorman Avenue South, said: “I lit my candle out respect to Julia. I know the family well and she was a lovely girl. “What has happened has been a tragedy for the people of this village and the people who knew her well.” As residents left votives outside their homes, a candle was also lit at Canterbury Cathedral in Julia’s memory. Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid his respects, saying: “Tonight we remember PCSO Julia James. My thoughts are with her friends and family.” Julia’s colleagues at Kent Police also observed a minute’s silence in her memory at 2.30pm on Tuesday. Meanwhile, dozens of floral tributes have been lain in Aylesham’s village square, along with messages of grief and condolence.

Picture: Canterbury Cathedral A candle was lit at Canterbury Cathedral

Flowers have been left in Aylesham’s village square