Tributes have been paid to a Fife child-minder whose death is being treated as murder by police.
Former clients, including Dunfermline MSP Cara Hilton and Thomas Docherty MP, spoke of their sadness after the body of Carol-Anne Taggart was found at Pettycur Bay Caravan Park, Kinghorn.
A man, believed to be her son Ross, has been charged in connection with her death and is expected to appear in court at a later date.
Carol-Anne was last seen at her home in Hill of St Margaret, Dunfermline, on December 22.
On Monday officers made the grim discovery of a body, which was identified as being Carol-Anne the following day.
Asking for their privacy to be respected family members paid tribute to her.
Through Police Scotland they said: “Carol-Anne was our mother and grandmother and will be sadly missed by family and friends.”
The news of the death rocked those who knew her as a friend, neighbour or experienced childminder.
Mrs Hilton said: “My two youngest children attended her service for around two years until my daughter started school both loved their time at Carol’s.
“I was clearly worried when I heard she had gone missing before Christmas and was extremely shocked to hear that her body had been found.”
Mr Docherty, who flew back from Westminster on Tuesday, said: “It is an incredibly difficult time for the family, for Lorraine and the grandchildren.
“It is all just horrible, you cannot imagine what it is like for them at this time.
“It is awful for everyone, and I just want to offer any practical help.”
Local councillor Helen Law was shocked to hear the development in the search for Carol-Anne.
“It is very, very sad news,” she said. “It is a popular nursery.
“Not only will Mrs Taggart’s family be devastated but so too will the folk she worked with and the families and children.”
Neighbours in the secluded streets around Hill of St Margaret, close to Queen Margaret Hospital and Dunfermline Queen Margaret rail station, were stunned that their neighbour had been found dead.
“It is incredibly quiet around here, and this is something you never imagine would happen it’s so sad,” said one immediate neighbour.
Another resident added: “This is very sad, it has come as a shock to the neighbourhood.
“It has just been stomach-churning the last few weeks, to see the army of police moving about in the area.”