A MAN suspected of murdering a care worker had recently moved into the retirement village where she worked, locals say.
Clifford Foster, 61, has been charged with murder after reportedly barricading himself in a room during a 13-hour standoff with armed cops.
was allegedly stabbed multiple times while she was working at Ger-y-Nant, in Bridgend, South Wales, at 11.35am on October 19.
The 47-year-old called 999, but decided to drive herself to hospital after the call “dropped out”. The control room tried to phone her back to no avail.
She collapsed at the wheel after driving for 300 yards and crashed into a wall in Bridgend, South .
Eleanor was found at 12.40pm with “puncture wounds unrelated to the collision,” cops said.
A “significant” police operation was then carried out at the retirement housing complex where she worked.
Part of her job was to visit residents to ensure they were warm and comfortable.
South Wales Police arrested Clifford from Bridgend on suspicion of murder and is now due to appear at Newport Magistrates Court tomorrow.
Locals believe he had recently moved into the complex of one and two bedroom units and may have previously been homeless.
Residents were evacuated, with many collected by family members, before armed police swooped in.
The apartment block features 13 social housing flats for people over the age of 60.
Eleanor’s family paid tribute saying: “Mum was the kindest, most loving, bravest person in the world.
“She meant everything to us and will be forever loved and missed deeply by her devoted family and friends. She was our rock.”
Eleanor – who had one child – was described as “very caring” by friends and “massively dedicated” to her job.
Jo Oak, chief executive of Valleys to Coast – where Eleanor worked – added that the organisation was “devastated by the tragic death of our colleague”.
“Eleanor was a much-valued member of the Valleys to Coast team, and her loss has been deeply felt by everyone who knew and worked alongside her,” she said.
“She made an important contribution to our organisation and to the communities we serve, and she will be remembered with great warmth and affection by her colleagues.
“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Eleanor’s family and friends at this unimaginably difficult time.”
A South Wales spokesperson said: “We were called at around 12.43pm on Monday October 19 following a report of a road traffic collision, where a car had collided with a wall.
“Upon attendance, officers identified that the driver had sustained injuries unrelated to the collision.
“Despite medical attention, the driver, a 47-year-old woman has died at hospital.”
The force said Eleanor was from the nearby village of North Cornelly and her family are being supported by specialist officers.
Chief Superintendent Jason Rees said: “Our thoughts remain firmly with Eleanor’s family.
“I want to assure the community that teams of detectives and specialist staff are investigating.
“We encourage anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has any relevant information to contact us.”
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called on Monday at approximately 12.44pm, to reports of a road traffic collision on Coity Road, Bridgend.
“A Cymru high acuity response unit arrived on scene seven minutes after the initial call at 12.51pm, with two emergency ambulances arriving to provide additional support at 1.07pm and 1.13pm.
“Advanced critical care support was delivered by the emergency medical retrieval and transfer service who arrived in a Wales air ambulance helicopter.
“The patient was conveyed by road to hospital. We are aware that contradictory and misleading rumours regarding a delayed ambulance response have been circulating on social media.
“These are factually untrue and we would encourage members of the public not to speculate.”
