The home where Elizabeth had lived since arriving in England from South Africa was a stark contrast to her friend Andrew Sutton's comfortable suburban home where she died.

The youngster shared a modest flat with her parents, Campbell and Pauline Gold, in Broadfield Barton, Crawley.

The flat is above a Seventies shops development. The area is monitored by CCTV cameras. Police notices offering a reward for a recent attack on a woman are posted on the shop windows.

Scorch marks scar the walls and paved areas near the adjacent health centre where small fires have been lit.

Some neighbours recall the area being the scene of a murder when it was first built.

Elizabeth's home overlooked the top deck of a flooded multi-storey car park strewn with supermarket shopping trolleys. Last night the flat was in darkness.

A woman who works in the video store in the parade of shops recalled the teenager hiring films including the comedies Scream 3 and the Bogus Witch Project.

She said: "She seemed like any other teenager - she seemed cheerful. She was a pretty thing and just a normal teenager."