A 41-year-old man has been charged with murder following the fatal stabbing of Aliny Mendes.

The 39-year-old mother died on Friday after being stabbed just yards from a school near Cheam.

In a statement on Sunday evening, Surrey Police said: "Ricardo Godinho, 41, of Kingston Road in Epsom was charged with murder this evening (February 10).

"He will appear in Staines Magistrates' Court court on Monday, 11 February.

"Aliny Mendes, 39, died at the roadside shortly after police were called following reports that a woman had been stabbed at the Sparrow Farm Road junction of London Road in Ewell.

"The matter has been referred to Independent Office of Police Conduct."

Ms Mendes was stabbed just yards from Meadow Primary School, with London Road and the adjoining Sparrow Farm Road cordoned off as police investigated.

The area where the attack took place is a village on the south-west London and Surrey border.

On Saturday evening, Ms Mendes’ sister paid tribute to her and said: “My sister was lovely, always thinking about everyone but mostly her children. She had a wonderful heart and there was no one else like her. She was a caring sister and worried about everyone.

"She was always making sure everyone was ok. She tried to help everyone where she could. She loved to cook and would organise surprise parties for friends and family giving cakes and presents she was loved by everyone. Everything she did was for the love for her children.”

A fundraiser set up to support her children and also to have her body repatriated to be with her friends in Brazil has raised more than £35,000.