Mum of Greenock woman Colette Law spoke of her ‘rage’ and grief after it emerged her body lay undiscovered in a Spalding churchyard for a week

A grief-stricken mum has spoke of her 'rage' after it emerged that the body of her daughter lay undiscovered in a tent for a week before she was discovered.

Patricia Law (63) has paid tribute her 'bubbly' and 'loving' 26-year-old daughter, Colette, who had recently moved to Spalding after leaving Inverclyde, Scotland to start a new life for herself.

Patricia and her husband John (64) told colleagues at the Greenock Telegraph that that the news of Colette's tragic death had left them ‘numb’.

Paul Neilson (30) went before Lincoln Magistrates Court yesterday (Monday) charged with the murder of Colette on July 10 – a week before officers were called to St Mary and St Nicolas Churchyard after receiving reports of a body in the grounds.

Mum-of-three Patricia, a home care assistant, said: “I was out working just round the corner. John had phoned me to say Colette was found dead.

“I just dropped everything and came around the road.

"They [the police] were telling us what had happened, but we weren’t listening.”

Recalling how Colette was known for her love of karaoke, Patricia added: “Every time I put the radio on now and hear a song, it was one of hers.

"There’s not a song that comes on now that Colette didn’t sing.”

The keen singer even tried out for the X Factor twice but never made it past the first round, and Patricia joked that her daughter ‘thought she was better than she was’.

It is understood that Colette had been living in a tent within the church grounds while awaiting assistance from the authorities to find permanent accommodation.

Patricia recalled suspecting something was wrong after she didn’t hear from Colette, who was usually in regular contact, for several days.

Neilson appeared at Lincoln Magistrates' Court yesterday morning, where he was remanded in custody ahead of a hearing at Lincoln Crown Court today.

Colette’s parents spoke of their heartbreak at knowing their daughter lay for a week before she was found.

Patricia added: "I was raging when I found out she'd been lying there all that time."

Colette’s family have been 'overwhelmed' with visits and messages from friends and relatives over the past week – as well as from people they've never met.

One man, from Spalding, contacted Patricia last week to offer his condolences, recalling a time when he met Colette in a doorway in the town and he'd bought her food and a hot drink.

Patricia said: “He said he was sorry to hear about our loss. I’m going, ‘who’s this?’ – just a person passing by and she was sitting in a doorway.

"There was at least somebody good out there looking after her.

"There was somebody there making sure she got a hot cup of tea.”

Colette’s parents say their loved ones have rallied to help them through this difficult time.

After hearing the tragic news, one cousin took purple orchids to the family home – a nod to Colette’s favourite colour and the tone of her hair.

Her mum said: “She’s got a big, big family up here and they’re all devastated. It’s not just us.

“She’s got cousins that will never see her again, she’s got her two sisters, she’s got her aunties.

“I want their lasting memories to be when they last saw her, the last time they were out together, the last time they heard her singing at karaoke, the last time they heard her laugh – that infectious laugh.

“Just remember the last times, because they are the good times.”

Lincolnshire Police issued a fresh appeal for witnesses yesterday as their investigation continues.

Detective Inspector Adrian Czajkowski, senior investigating officer, said: “We believe there may be people who were in the town who have witnessed something which might help our ongoing investigation, who we have not yet spoken with.

"Any piece of information can prove crucial in an investigation, and we’d rather have as much information as possible.”

- This report is courtesy of Erin Maguire of the Greenock Telegraph