THE family of a young Spennymoor woman killed by a terrorist bomb in Turkey are expected to return home with her body this week.

Helen Bennett, 23, of South Street, was among five people killed when an explosion ripped apart a minibus packed with tourists in the popular Aegean resort of Kusadasi on Saturday.

Her 23-year-old fianc Stephen Stables, who was enjoying his first holiday abroad, was seriously injured. He is being treated at Ege University Hospital, in Izmir, for burns, shrapnel wounds and a broken leg and his parents have flown to Turkey to be by his bedside.

His father, Michael Stables, a builder from Spennymoor, said: "The last thing Stephen said to me before he went away was 'I love you.' It was his first holiday abroad. I can't believe this has happened.

"I think they got engaged sometime last year, they were a lovely couple. Very quiet but lovely."

The couple had been living with Miss Bennett's family in recent months to save money for their first home together, in Stratton Street, which they planned to move into when they returned from holiday.

Other members of Helen's family who were hurt in the explosion were her brother Adam Megoran, 16, and aunt Toni Punshon, cousin Sam Punshon, 14, and Ms Punshon's partner Michael Aspinall, from the Durham area.

They were expected to fly home this week for treatment in England.

Miss Bennett's mother Sharon Holden and step-father Tommy, of South Street, Spennymoor, and other relatives only escaped the carnage because they decided to take a boat trip to Greece that day.

In a statement issued through the Foreign Office, Miss Bennett's family said: "We are truly saddened by the tragedy that has struck our family. We are grateful for the excellent work and support of the staff at Ege and Kent hospitals."

Turkish authorities initially believed the bomb was the work of a female suicide bomber but now say it is more likely it was carried out by the Kurdish PKK separatist group.

Ken Hall, headteacher at Miss Bennett's former school, Spennymoor School, said: "The whole school community will be shocked and saddened by this terrible event.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims and their families and we wish the injured a speedy and full recovery. Helen was a quiet, co-operative and pleasant girl, who was popular with her friends and well-liked by the teaching staff.

"All who knew her will be distraught at this news."

He also said that Adam, who has just completed his GCSEs at the school, is 'a pleasant lad, just a nice normal kid like Helen was.'

Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman said: "She was a totally innocent victim and nothing can justify the killing and maiming of ordinary people in this way.

"It is particularly shocking that a holiday, which is meant to be a happy time should end like this in such sadness.

"Our hearts go out to her family, both those travelling with her who have also been seriously injured and those at home."

Shocked friends and neighbours paid tribute to Miss Bennett.

Helen Landers, who had worked with Miss Bennett at the Bargain Booze store in the town centre, said: "I felt physically sick when someone rang me at two in the morning to tell me.

"She was one of those people everyone liked, no one who knew her would want to hurt her, that makes this even more horrible."