"She was a darling. Everybody loved her."

That's how Henry Wheeler described Amanda Edwards.

Mr Wheeler, 65, often bumped into the 21-year-old nursery nurse in Malmesbury, the town where he was born and bred.

He described Amanda as a happy, caring young woman and was shocked to hear of her death.

Mr Wheeler said: "I've known her five or six years and she was just lovely. Amanda loved children."

Three weeks ago Amanda told Mr Wheeler she wanted to leave the area.

He said: "She said she didn't like Purton, Calne or Swindon. She hoped to travel round the world as a nanny."

Besides socialising with friends in the town, Amanda also visited Malmesbury Abbey.

Over the weekend parishioners were spring cleaning the church ready for the arrival of its new vicar.

Jackie Morris was among the helpers and also knew Amanda.

She said: "I trained her in food hygiene and first aid last year for her nursery work. She was a very sweet, pleasant student. It's so sad."

Ms Morris described how upset residents were over the murder.

She said: "It's tragic to think our peaceful town is associated with someone's bad deeds. I feel privileged to live here, then something like this happens. Nowhere is sacred these days."

Jane Scull, 49, who works in E and J Phillips bakery, said: "Malmesbury is a sleepy hollow really. We don't get much vandalism here. Then suddenly there's a murder. I can't believe it."

June Tilney, 69, who has lived in the town for 30 years, now fears for her grandchildren.

She said: "Something like this makes you so wary. It hardly seems safe for young girls to go out enjoying themselves."