The body of Katie Summers, 24, also known as Katie Boardman, was discovered by police at the home she shared with her boys, aged three and two.

A close friend and former neighbour of Miss Summers said she only found out about the tragedy when she read it on the Evening Post website, www.lep.co.uk.

Nikki Cowburn lived a few houses away from Miss Summers in Yew Trees Avenue on Preston's Grange estate, until Miss Summers left the area last year.

She had only recently moved into the semi-detached house in Masefield Drive, Farnworth, Greater Manchester, where she was found dead by police last Thursday morning.

A post-mortem examination revealed she had suffered multiple stab wounds.

Miss Summers arrived in Preston in 2004, pregnant with son Sean, now three, and then later had Reece, now two, before leaving the city last year. She also had two older children.

Mother-of-two Nikki, 27, said: "I can't believe it. It's such a waste of a life of someone so young.

"It's just the kids I feel sorry for. They adored her. Sean was a mummy's boy – he loved her so much.

"She had far too many problems for someone so young but she was always bright and bubbly and laughing.

"She never let anything get to her.She was always smiling and just seemed to get on with things."

Nikki, who now lives in Hazel Grove, Grange, with her partner Andy Leaver, 31, and sons Jordan, 11, and James, six, clearly remembers the day Katie moved away.

She said: "The day she left, I was in tears. I was hugging her. I didn't want her to go. I loved her kids to bits.

"I gave the kids a kiss and a hug and told her if she ever needed me, she knew where I was." Since then, the pair had stayed in touch via phone calls and text messages.

In a statement, her family said: "Katie was a daughter, a mother, and was adored by her two sisters.

"She was a bubbly person, fun to be with and extremely generous. Katie's family were her life.

"What has happened has taken away our chance to hold her and to tell her that we loved her.

"She had a particular gift when it came to children – they all loved her and she had the ability to come down to a child's level and communicate with them. She also loved to dance.

"We were all extremely proud of Katie, particularly recently as she had been very strong and had ended a difficult relationship.

"Katie had just gained the confidence and self-belief to begin a new chapter in her life."

Miss Summers' body was discovered at 10.30am on Thursday after police were called to a report of a woman being stabbed.

Police forensic officers sealed off the house and a section of churchyard at Bolton Parish Church.

Police later confirmed they had recovered a knife, but would not say where from and were unable to confirm whether it was the murder weapon.

Miss Summers' ex-boyfriend, Brian Taylor, 29, of Irwell Avenue in Little Hulton, Greater Manchester, has been charged with murder.
He was due to appear before Bolton Magistrates this morning.

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