A mum-of-two found strangled in a caravan in Bradford has been described as a “fantastic” mum in a glowing tribute.

Jade Watson, 22, doted on her son Jacob, four, and two-year-old daughter Ella, said her boss at the Bradford city centre fish and chip shop where she worked.

Andy Wharton, manager at The In Plaice on Sunbridge Road, said: “She was a fantastic mother. She was always talking about her kids, and always bringing them in here when she wasn’t working.

“For someone at that age to be looking after two kids, running a house and working, I take my hat off to her and I said that to her as well.”

Miss Watson, 22, was found dead in a caravan at the back of a house on Wood Lane, Swain House, on Tuesday.

A post-mortem examination confirmed that she had died from “pressure to the neck consistent with strangulation”.

Bouquets of flowers had been laid on the doorstep of Miss Watson’s semi-detached home in Plumpton Gardens, Wrose, Shipley, yesterday. Family members were too upset to talk about what had happened.

Staff at The In Plaice were also said to be distraught, with Mr Wharton describing the ten people who work there as “like a little family” that discussed problems.

Mr Wharton said: “Everyone is really shocked by it. It came as a massive, massive shock. For me, having to go in the shop and tell them all what had happened was probably one of the hardest things I have had to do.

“She was a fantastic worker, a really bubbly and very giggly character – a typical 22-year-old who was full of life. And she certainly wouldn’t harm a fly”.

Mr Wharton said he last saw Miss Watson at 3pm on Tuesday – less than two hours before paramedics called police to the murder scene.

She was meant to be working on Wednesday teatime, said Mr Wharton, who added: “People were coming in asking where Jade was. The girls did fantastically well to work. Lots of people were asking them questions, but I don’t think they could answer them.”

Under the circumstances, said Mr Wharton, the shop shut four hours early at 4pm on Wednesday.

The shop’s manager for three-and-a-half years, Mr Wharton said that Miss Watson had worked at the shop for about five years.

She took a brief break when she had her children, he said, but returned to work about 18 months ago.

“She worked part-time, about 16 hours a week,” said Mr Wharton. “She did waitressing, serving – in fact she could put her hand to most things in the shop. She is going to be a hard person to replace.”

Mr Wharton, 40, said Miss Watson had a new boyfriend and that things with him “seemed to be going well”.

The father of Miss Watson’s children, Daniel Tonge, is said to be devastated and dreading telling the youngsters of their mum’s death.

Mr Wharton said Miss Watson saw her mum and grandad a lot, and that her granddad was “numb” at what had happened. He added: “It will be really hard for all of them, especially with Christmas coming up.”

Neighbours of Miss Watson in Plumpton Gardens, where she is believed to have lived for about one year, said she was a pleasant woman.

One man told of exchanging Christmas cards with Miss Watson, and said: “She never gave us any trouble – she was pleasant. I am sorry for the whole family.”

Another said: “I didn’t know her. It is absolutely terrible what has happened. I feel for her whole family.”

Mr Wharton added: “We are going to do some sort of tribute and a collection for her children.”