A SUFFOLK man has paid tribute to his “beloved daughter” after she was killed in her own home.

Anthony Bond

A SUFFOLK man has paid tribute to his “beloved daughter” after she was killed in her own home.

Jim Marshall, who lives near Hadleigh, was speaking after his daughter Claire Marshall, 35, was found with stab wounds in the Cumbrian town of Millom. A 43-year-old man has been charged with the murder of the mother-of-three.

Mr Marshall, 67, the former deputy chief gardens advisor to The National Trust, said: “Claire was a beloved daughter and a devoted mother of three beautiful girls.

“She will be deeply missed by her loving family, friends, colleagues and the local community.”

Police were called to Claire's house on Saturday morning and despite the best efforts of ambulance crews she died at the scene.

Benjamin Alan Cooper, 43, from Millom, has been charged with her murder and has also been charged with the attempted murder of a 64-year-old man who was found with serious stab wounds in another part of the town.

Tributes have been paid to Claire by people in the town.

Ray Beresford, owner of the Bargain Booze store in Wellington Street where she had worked for two years, said: "Claire was a bright girl who was usually happy. She was very popular with the staff and customers. She was an extremely good worker who will be sorely missed.”

Detective Superintendent Paul Carter from Cumbria Police said: “Millom is a very close-knit and very caring community.

“We have had a lot of people expressing concern about what's happened and offering support to the family.”

Her death is the second tragedy to hit the family after Claire's brother John stabbed his mother Marjorie to death in 1994.

Mr Marshall and his late wife Marjorie adopted Claire and John and used to live in the Cotswolds town of Tetbury.

In 1996 John appeared at Bristol Crown Court charged with the murder of his adoptive mother. He admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility but walked free from court after Mr Marshall, who had been married to Marjorie for 25 years, pleaded for mercy.

John, now 33, was put on three years' probation.

n Benjamin Cooper appeared before magistrates on Monday. He did not enter a plea and spoke only to confirm his name and address. He was remanded in prison until his next appearance at Preston Crown Court. A date for the committal proceedings is yet to be confirmed.