THE FAMILY of murdered Chantel Taylor are holding their first memorial service in her honour next week on the second anniversary of her death.

It will be the first time they have been able to recognise the date as this time last year, relatives of the tragic mum-of-three were still clinging to the hope that she was only missing from home and would one day return.

Last month, however, former soldier Stephen Wynne was jailed for life after admitting the 27-year-old's murder.

He'd killed her on the night of March 13, 2004, then cut up her body and hid it in his loft in Elmswood Road, Birkenhead. Later he dumped her remains at Bidston Tip and Royden Park in Frankby.

Wynne was only caught after he was arrested for setting fire to the Wirral Islamic Centre in Birkenhead last year, two days after the July 7 bombings in London.

When his home was searched police found a handwritten note referring to the murder of a woman. When they asked if he knew anything about Chantel's disappearance sixteen months earlier, he immediately confessed.

Chantel's remains have never been found but some DNA evidence was recovered from Wynne's home. The family now hope to hold a funeral service for Chantel later this year.

The memorial service, which is open to anybody who would like to pay their respects to Chantel, will take place at St Werburgh's Church in Grange Precinct, Birkenhead, on Monday, March 13, starting at 7pm.

Chantel's mother Jean told the Globe this week: "It is the first chance we have had to hold a proper memorial service for Chantel. It'll be a very emotional occasion as we've had such a roller coaster two years.

"But it's a chance for her family and friends and anyone else in the wider community who would like to pay their respects to Chantel, and we hope as many people as possible can attend."

Chantel had started to use heroin while grieving the sudden death of her brother, Stephen. The family will also be remembering his birthday, which would have been on March 9.

Jean added: "The family has been through a terrible time but this is a way to help the healing process. It won't change the fact that two of my children are gone, but it will help everybody to remember them."