News that police have found a body in the search for a former Loxford High School pupil has been described as “heartbreaking” by the 34-year-old’s uncle.

The former Loxford High School pupil went missing on Christmas Eve in Coventry, just hours before she was to travel south to spend the holidays with her family in east London.

Family and friends retained hope Sameena would be found alive.

Two brothers – Roger Cooper, 40, of Tile Hurst Drive, Coventry, and David Cooper, 38, of Hughenden Drive, Leicester – were charged with her murder.

But last Friday detectives found a body on an allotment site in Leicester, and believe it is that of the Costco assistant general manager.

Uncle Javid Ditta wrote on Facebook on Tuesday: “Most of you would have seen on the news that the police believe Sam was found on Friday.

“The news has been heartbreaking not just for the family but for everyone that knew Sam.

“Someone very special to a lot of us has been taken away.”

Sheela Chavda, 58, from Harrow, became friends with Sameena when she started working at Costco’s head office in Watford in 2002.

“She was like a daughter to me and came to my son’s wedding,” she said. “I just can’t believe what’s happened – I was in tears when I found out.”

Saifullah Kazmi went to sixth form college with Sameena.

He said: “She, among a few, made life bearable with her effervescent zest in everything that she did.”

A group of Sameena’s friends are to make the trip to Leicester to lay flowers near to where she was believed to have been found this weekend.