FRIENDS and family of a popular woman who was found dead at her Cirencester home last week have paid tribute to her "amazing personality and huge smile."

At around 2.10pm on Thursday police and the ambulance service were called to a house in Victoria Road, Cirencester, where 31-year-old Nicola Paginton, was found dead.

A post mortem took place on Friday and police are currently treating her death as unexplained.

An inquest into her death was formerly opened yesterday.

Close friend Claire Bloomer told the Standard: “We all knew her as lovely Nic who had a big heart and who would do anything for anybody.

“She loved socialising and was a really special, fun-loving person. She was loved dearly by lots of people.”

Nicola, who had previously worked at Meadowpark Nursery in Cricklade, had been working as a childminder.

She attended Malmesbury School and grew up in Crudwell where her parents still live.

Her father Stan Paginton said she was passionate about working with children and also worked as a girl guide for many years, helping out at Woodlarks, a camp for disabled children.

“Everyone says how she was always smiling,” he said. “We are just in total shock.”

Her popularity was shown when on Friday night her friends gathered in her memory at the Bees Knees pub in Watermoor Road.

Friend Lindsay Green said: “She will always be known for her love of the drink WKD blue – with a straw.”

A Facebook group in memory of Nicola now has more than 350 members.

It states: "RIP Nic Paginton. For our friend, who will always be loved and will always be missed x x x."

On friend wrote: "I'm not sure what to say, total shock, you were the life and soul of the party, always there with a smile."

Police enquiries are ongoing.