Strangled tourist Joanne Clarke, murdered on a beach in the Bahamas, was a "really lovely girl", her mother said last night at her Banbury home.

The 24-year-old, of Warwick Road, was popular and caring, especially at the school where she worked as a classroom assistant. Mum Susan said: "She was not only a truly loving daughter, she had a loving, compassionate and caring nature."

Joanne's body was found on Saturday on a beach on the luxury Paradise Island near the Bahamian capital Nassau. The decomposing body of another woman was discovered nearby and fears are growing of a serial killer stalking the Caribbean island chain.

Joanne had worked at Neithrop Junior School, in Prescott Avenue, Banbury, since October 1997 as a special needs care assistant.

Her mother Susan said: "Joanne was a really lovely girl who spent her life helping other people. She supported many people and anyone who was privileged enough to meet her could only love her. She will be sadly missed by many people."

Joanne was a student of Banbury School and did her A-levels at North Oxfordshire College before graduating from Luton University in 1996 in social and women's studies.

Mrs Clarke said: "Her popularity and caring nature gained her many true friends. She worked at Neithrop School and enjoyed every minute of her time there. Her death will be a sad loss to many, many people." Det Sgt Mike Scarlett, of Banbury police, said Mrs Clarke and her husband Alan had been left devastated by the murder.

He said: "They are really very upset. They don't know where they are and what they are doing. They are so distressed."

Paul Doyle, who lives near the family in Warwick Road, said: "She lived life completely. I am very close to the whole family and they are shocked."

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "She was a very nice girl, very bubbly, and I find the whole thing terribly shocking.

"I haven't seen her for quite a long time because she was at university but I think it's terrible what's happened to her."

Neithrop deputy head Lesley Alcorn said: "We are devastated. Joanne worked part-time here. She was due to join us full-time next term and was very excited about it.

"She was very good at her job and thoroughly enjoyed working closely with children.

"She was a really caring, good-natured girl. I have no doubt she would have been a very good special needs teacher."

Joanne had been in Nassau at the home of British millionaire Greg Cole and his family since August 12 for a three-week holiday.

She went to help her friend Margaret care for Mr Cole's special needs son. On Friday she went to the beach at noon with a female friend, Michelle, and Mr Cole's ten-year-old son.

Michelle took the youngster back to the family home at 3pm beacuse of the heat but when she returned to the beach there was no sign of Joanne.

Police, air-sea rescue workers and volunteers searched for Joanne the next morning and her body was found face down in bushes separating the island's golf course from a secluded part of Cabbage Beach on the four-mile-long holiday resort.

Nearby lay the decomposed corpse of US teacher Lori Fogleman, 32, of Richmond, Virginia. She had been missing since July 20.

An islander said: "All my girlfriends won't go anywhere unless they are with other men. Everybody's really shaken up about this."

A receptionist at the Paradise Harbour Club and Marina said: "Everyone staying here is really worried. They don't know what to do."

Another added: "We don't know what the situation is. We don't know if there's a serial killer about. These things don't happen in Nassau."

Tourists are attracted to the island partly because of its safe reputation. Supermodel Cindy Crawford was recently married on a beach near where the two women's bodies were found.

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