Touching tributes have been paid to a hugely popular chef who was found dead behind a village bowls club.

Sadiane Roach, 22, who grew up in the Dengie, was found behind the Jacks Centre, in Burnham Road, Latchingdon, at about 5.40pm on Tuesday, after she was reported missing earlier in the day when she did not turn up for work.

The police are not treating her death as suspicious.

Hundreds of friends have paid tribute to her by decorating the village youth shelter with flowers, candles and messages and have even raised about £2,500 to pay for her funeral.

They have also released Chinese lanterns in memory of the former St Peter’s High School pupil, who previously worked at the Lion Inn in Latchingdon and the Ship Inn in Burnham.

Miss Roach, known by her nickname Shard, later moved to Danbury to live with her stepfather. She then moved in with friends in Beaulieu Park, Chelmsford.

Good friend Emrah Mevsimler, 20, who was one of the last people to see her alive, said Miss Roach lived to make others happy.

The clinical trials assistant at Princeton Consumer Research said: “She was the most incredible bubbly person you could ever meet.

“You wouldn’t get a boring moment with her around. If she sees that you are down, she would make sure that you are ok."

See this week's Burnham Standard for the full story.