A university graduate was found bludgeoned to death in her bed after she failed to turn up to her own birthday party.

Tributes have been paid to Christina Abbotts, 29, who was found after neighbours say her worried father turned up at the flat she was staying in in Crawley, West Sussex, when friends had not heard from her.

Her family paid tribute to a "sweet and loving daughter", saying: "The light in our life is now extinguished."

Zahid Naseem, a 47-year-old businessman who was known to Miss Abbotts and was found at the flat, has appeared before magistrates charged with her murder.

Miss Abbotts, who described herself as a "traveller" and a "foodie", had posted excited messaged on social media about the party on her birthday in London.

Just days before her death she had changed her Facebook profile picture to one of herself with a crown, party poppers and champagne drawn on and the message: "It's birthday time!!"