TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Banbury resident who was stabbed and killed at a caravan park just outside Oxford.

Former neighbours of Jenny Hume, 55, said they were shocked by her killing at Prospect Park in Horspath.

The grandmother-of-three was killed by a head wound and also suffered stab wounds.

Her body was found in a caravan at 2am on Friday.

Stewart Dale, 27, who lives at the park, was charged on Saturday with murder and appeared in court this week.

Ms Hume lived in Ferriston on the Hardwick estate in Banbury from, it is understood, 2002 to 2007.

Terry Smith, who has lived three doors down from her former home for 33 years, said: “I am shocked, it is the last thing you expect.

“She was a nice lady. I saw her a bit, she kept herself to herself. I think she worked as a carer.

“She was a very pleasant lady – you couldn’t fault her.”

In a short statement her family said: “Jenny Hume, aged 55, was a divorcee and lived in Oxford.

“She was a mother of three and a devoted grandmother of three.

“Her main interests were looking after her grandchildren and in her spare time she also enjoyed horse-riding.”

Police found Ms Hume dead at the static caravan after a concerned neighbour alerted them.

They said a post mortem examination showed she suffered stab wounds, but was killed by blunt trauma to the head.

Neighbours of Ms Hume, who lived in Hamel Walk, Oxford, paid tribute.

Sheila Ford, 43, who lived next door, said: “She was such a lovable person. This is such a shock to me.

“She was very friendly and she absolutely idolised her young grandson. He will miss her terribly.”

She said Ms Hume had lived alone in the housing association flat for nearly four years.

She said: “She had a heart of gold. She would have given you her last penny. I got on with her and she got on with me. We always had a laugh.”

The cleaner said she understood Ms Hume was taking a training course at Oxford Brookes University. But she said she had no idea how Ms Hume, who she said had four brothers, ended up in Horspath.

Dale appeared before Oxford magistrates on Tuesday to face a charge of murder. The case was adjourned and he was remanded in custody ahead of a future hearing.