A close friend of West Herts College student Catherine Wynter, who was found stabbed to death, has paid tribute to the "talented" teenager.

Miss Wynter, a former Queens’ school student known as Katy to her friends, was discovered on Tuesday, December 27, by her mother at a house in Beech Drive, Borehamwood, where she had been babysitting her niece and nephew.

Her friend Aimee Foster, 20, said: "She was like a sister to me and she was the best friend you could ask for. She was always the girl with a smile on her face and she was never in a bad mood."

Miss Foster said Katy was very creative and wanted to pursue art as a career when she was older.

"She was a really talented artist and for presents at Christmas and birthdays she would draw a portrait or a picture for you."

Miss Wynter was studying a foundation degree in art and design at West Herts College and was due to graduate next year.

Miss Foster and Miss Wynter had known each other since they were three-year-olds and went to nursery and primary school together at Park Side School, in Aycliffe Road.

Following primary school, the pair went to different secondary schools, with Miss Wynter attending Queens’ School, in Aldenham Road, Bushey, but they stayed in touch over the years.

Miss Foster said: "She was a tough girl and she would never let anything to get to her. She didn’t care what people had to say about her.

"We would just do the things friends do and we always had a joke together and just hang out.

"Katy was one of the family and she would always come over our house and just fit right in. We all loved her very much."

The pair had planned to have a day trip into central London for the January sales and to visit a number of art galleries.

Miss Foster, also from Borehamwood, added: “She was full of confidence and would happily get along with anyone and would always want to talk to people about anything.

"If she was here now she would be telling us to stop being sad and just get on with it."