EXCLUSIVE: THE best friend of nursery assistant Amanda Edwards, whose body was found buried on a building site a week after she disappeared, has told of her heartache.

Ellen Wilkinson worked with Miss Edwards from Purton, at the Little Foxes nursery in Brinkworth, near Malmesbury, for two years.

Miss Wilkinson from Hullavington, said: "She was a fantastic person."

The body of Miss Edwards was found on the former Knoll House Hotel site last Thursday after she had been missing for a week. Prime suspect Ian Cortis was found dead the next day at the home of his parents-in-law in Woodsage Way, Calne.

The two women, both aged 21, became close friends through work and spent a lot of time together at weekends when they joined forces with three other nursery nurses to hit Chippenham's nightspots.

"Amanda loved theme nights," said Miss Wilkinson. "If it was one of our birthdays we always used to dress up. "When it was her birthday last June we hired a stretch limo and all dressed as cheerleaders. Amanda was the leader of our group. She was the loudest and the most outgoing.

"I am really going to miss her. She was a lovely person and would do anything for you. She also paid tribute to Miss Edwards' devotion to children. "Amanda was fantastic with small babies."

Miss Wilkinson said Miss Edward's boyfriend David Board had joined them for the 21st birthday bash but usually it was just the five women who went out together for girlie evenings.

"Amanda really loved dressing up and she got all of us to do it as well. One time we were all fairies but I think it is the cheerleaders night that I remember best.

"We usually went to Buds nightclub but we went to the other pubs and clubs as well.

"Her and David were happy together and it didn't matter that he was a couple of years younger."

Tribute to Miss Edwards was also paid by her employers and colleagues at Little Foxes nursery. They said: "We are deeply shocked and upset by the circumstances of the disappearance and now death of Amanda.

"Amanda joined us in June 2002 as a qualified nursery nurse working in our baby unit. She enjoyed her work immensely and was dedicated to the care and development of babies, which was her passion.

"Amanda was a vibrant young woman who immediately integrated with and developed close friendships with many of the staff. Amanda was caring and patient. She had good professional relationships with the parents of the babies in her care.''

"One of the parents said 'she was such a good person on the inside and out.' We are a close family group and we are supporting each other through this very sad time. Our sympathies and prayers are with Amanda's family."

The nursery is considering a memorial for Miss Edwards at its premises in Brinkworth after consultation with her family.

Many people have left floral tributes for Miss Edwards at the Malmesbury building site and outside her Purton home.

One of them, accompanied by a photograph of her, and friends left outside The Knoll building site said: "To our wonderful beautiful friend who was always so full of sweetness and light. Thank you for looking after our son. Always in our hearts, Nikki, Paul and Lewis.''

Amanda was also remembered fondly at Bradon Forest School, where she took her GCSEs and left in 1998.

Deputy headmaster Michael Gourlay said: "She was a quiet, but very happy and friendly girl. She had a real flair for art and did some brilliant drawings and paintings while she was here. The whole school is very upset that something like this has happened to one of our former pupils, and really we are all in shock."