ASSISTANT headteacher at Miss Grender's former school yesterday paid tribute to an "excellent pupil."

Jimmy Stokes, who taught Miss Grender Religious Education while she was at Hartridge High School, said: "I'm very saddened by the news of Nikitta's death, she was a lovely girl and a pleasure to teach, I found her to be excellent.

"She was quiet, but very popular, my reaction was one of horror at the loss of this young life. People here who knew Nikitta are upset, it's very distressing when someone who was a pupil here and lives in the community has been killed in this way.

"My thoughts, and the thoughts of everyone at the school, go to the family."