COMMUNITY leaders and council chiefs expressed their shock last night at a “tragic” turn of events.

The body of a heavily pregnant woman, named locally as Fiona Anderson, was found at battery Green multi-story car park yesterday morning, she is believed to have fallen 40ft.

Later in the day, the bodies of her children were found at the family’s ground floor flat in an end-terrace Victorian block on London Road South, near the junction with Grosvenor Road.

The children are thought to be her three-year-old daughter Levina, two-year-old son Addy and 11-month-old son Kyden.

The busy one-way street is just a two-minute walk away from the award-winning Lowestoft beach, with a row of shops nearby. It is also near to the centre of a bustling Lowestoft nightlife with bars, a restaurant and popular nightclub nearby.

The flat is more than a mile away from the Gordon Road car park where the children’s mother was found.

The property is in Kirkley, which is located to the south of the centre of Lowestoft and is ranked as one of the most socially deprived areas in Suffolk. It boasts higher crime rates than almost all other areas within Waveney.

Last night, as news of the four deaths reverberated around the neighbourhood, a community in mourning paid touching tributes.

Waveney MP Peter Aldous said: “I think our thoughts are very much with the family at what is an absolutely tragic event.

“My thoughts are very much with them in these very sad circumstances. The family need to be provided with all the support in these awful circumstances.

“It is shocking news, but in the fullness of time we need to gather all the facts for a better understanding of what has happened,” he added.

Lowestoft mayor Nick Webb added that yesterday’s traumatic events were “incomprehensible,” as he called on the community to rally round in supporting the family and friends of the victims.

He said: “I would call on the whole town to pull together and try to support the wider family and friends through this absolute tragedy. Some of the children went back to school yesterday after the Easter break and to hear about this, it has come as a real shock.

“As a parent myself I am absolutely devastated – it is just incomprehensible,” he added.

“We all need to pull together at this time.”

Similar sentiments were shared by Waveney District Council leader Colin Law.

He said: “This is a truly tragic event which will be felt by all – not only in Kirkley but in Lowestoft and the wider community.

“It is even more distressing because of the children involved and we are thinking of and praying for their family and friends.”

Gareth Douce, a Waveney district councillor for the Kirkley ward, said: “This is terribly sad news for everyone concerned and has come as a great shock to the local community.

“All our thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved.”

Prospective parliamentary candidate for Waveney, Bob Blizzard, added: “This is a shocking tragedy and our thoughts must be with any family and friends at this stage.”