Thank you for your support.

That was the heartfelt message to the people of Lowestoft from the grieving family of Fiona Anderson and her children who were found dead on Monday.

Last night hundreds of people gathered on Lowestoft seafront to release lanterns to pay their respects to Miss Anderson (pictured below) and her children, Levina, Addy and Kyden. Amid tearful scenes, Miss Anderson's family – parents Chris and Kerry and sisters, Laura and Claire – released a lantern which soared poignantly into the sky and was soon joined by a small army of other lanterns heading out over the coast.

After the lantern release the family wanted to thank the large number of people who had turned up to show their support for them and also to the wider community which has become united in shock and sadness.

Laura Anderson told the EDP: 'We would like to say thank you to everyone for their support.'

A heavily pregnant Miss Anderson, 23, died after she fell from the multi-storey car-park in Gordon Road on Monday morning.

Police then went to her home in London Road South and found the bodies of her three children – Levina, aged three, Addy, aged two and 11-month-old Kyden.

Last night's lantern release by the South Pier had been organised through the social internet site Facebook by Jodie Strachan, 21, who sought permission and advice from Lowestoft police and Waveney District Council about the tribute.

Miss Strachan was pleased to see that so many people had decided to pay their respects to Fiona and her three children and also show they are united in their support for the family.

She said: 'It shows that people do care about people.

'We just wanted to do something so people can pay their respects to Fiona and her children. The whole town has been upset by what happened to them.

'It is important to show the town can pull together for them.'

Caroline Hallsworth, 45, from Cleveland Road which is near to Miss Anderson's home in London Road South, had come to light lanterns with her children Siobhan, 25, Ayesha, 14 and Skye, 12 and her four year-old grandchild, Eve.

She said: 'I live around the corner from Fiona and we were all badly struck by what has happened. It is nice to see the community come together tonight.'

As well as the lantern release, yesterday also saw a collection held along London Road North during the day to raise funds to help with the costs of the funeral and any memorial stones for Miss Anderson and her three children. The collection saw 10 people holding collection buckets and was organised by Lowestoft-based not-for-profit organisation Soundraisers and one its volunteers Denies Seager.

Adrian Nowell, from Soundraisers, said the money collected would be counted up today. He said: 'There were plenty of generous people that came along and donated.' If the money is not needed it will be donated to charity.

On Tuesday and Wednesday police issued CCTV images showing Miss Anderson on Monday morning outside the Fyffe Centre on Belvedere Road at about 6.20am, walking up Grosvenor Road towards Kirkley Rise five minutes earlier and then entering the multi-storey car park on Gordon Road at about 7.55am.

More than 15 members of the public have contacted the police after the images were issued.

Anyone who saw Miss Anderson on Monday morning or has any other information should call Suffolk police on 101.

anthony.carroll@archant.co.uk