Family and friends have paid tribute to a talented solicitor and keen football supporter they described as one of the kindest people in the world.

They said Caroline Scopes, 29, who died last month, went out of her way to help others.

She was found dead at her flat on January 28 and an inquest into her death has been opened.

Her mother, Susan Scopes, 51, said Caroline's death had been "like losing her best friend".

Mrs Scopes said: "She was always interested in what her friends, her parents and her brother were doing.

"Any of their achievements made her even happier than they were. She was a lovely caring girl.

"She was the best daughter we could have had and the best sister to her brother."

Miss Scopes, 29, grew up in Worthing with her mother, father Peter, 54, and brother Patrick, 26.

She left Chatsmore High School in Goring at 16 but educated herself while working as a secretary and passed A-levels in English, psychology and law before studying for a law degree at the University of Sussex.

She went on to take a further course at Guildford College of Law then became a trainee at DMH Stallard in Brighton, where she lived and worked for three years before moving to a firm in London.

Mrs Scopes said her daughter's career had been remarkable.

She said: "She achieved so much in a short life."

Miss Scopes' brother Patrick said Brighton and Hove Albion was her greatest passion.

She went to most home games and had been to many of the club's proudest moments in recent years, including the play-off final in Cardiff in 2004.

David Lawrence, 32, her boyfriend of three years, said she loved the roller-coaster ride of supporting the club.

Patrick said his sister had a brilliant sense of humour.

He said: "She was funny, fiercely intelligent and a vivacious character.

"She was fun to be around because she always liked to laugh.

"She was quite complex, passionate and emotional as well.

"She was very caring about other people, even sometimes to the detriment of herself."

Patrick added that his sister loved being in the sunshine.

She enjoyed Brighton beach and liked to go on sunny holidays.

When she was younger she played the flute to a high standard and played tennis.

Mr Lawrence said they had met when they were both working at DMH Stallard.

They lived together in Patcham. He said: "She was quite a closet academic - she loved to read.

"She would work her way through more books than you can shake a stick at."

Miss Scopes had recently started a masters degree in law and planned to study for a doctorate afterwards.

Mr Lawrence said: "She never actually realised the impact she made, how many friends she had and what she meant to everyone.

"She always undersold herself.

"She made a massive impact on everyone she met."

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