A close friend to Sameena Imam has said her family and those close to the 34-year-old are “praying for a miracle” after she went missing on Christmas Eve.

Sameena, a former pupil of Loxford High School, was set to spend the holidays with her family in Ilford but never made it home.

She was last seen at her workplace Costco in Coventry.

Friend Nina Hancock, 51, today praised Sameena, who she met when the assistant general manager worked in South Yorkshire.

She said: “She is most wonderful and beautiful person inside and out. She is the most warm hearted lady that you will have ever met.

“We are all worried and praying for a miracle that she will return safe and sound.”

Ms Hancock, who has been friends with Sameena for several years, keeping in contact through Facebook, added the family “is keeping positive”.

“We all still live in hope the police will find her safe,” she added.

“We are trying our best to stay positive.”

West Midlands Police have charged two brothers – Roger Cooper, 40, of Tile Hurst Drive, Coventry, and David Cooper, 38, of Hughenden Drive, Leicester – with her murder.