TRIBUTES have been paid to a Hampshire woman whose death remains at the centre of a major police investigation.

Those who knew her best say they will remember Majella Lynch as a kind and considerate woman who was always smiling.

As previously reported, an ambulance was called to St Mary Street on Good Friday, April 18, where paramedics found Ms Lynch seriously ill.

The 51-year-old, who lived nearby in St Mary’s Road, was pronounced dead at Southampton General Hospital two days later, on Easter Sunday.

The police said her death is “unexplained” and launched an investigation to find out how Ms Lynch came to die – only releasing details earlier this week when they arrested and later bailed two men who were quizzed about her final hours.

Officers also cordoned off a house in St Deny’s Road as part of their investigations but refused to shed light on why.

Ms Lynch, known to her friends as Maj, was said to have been well known in the community in which she lived as well as among workers at homeless charities the Society of St James and Two Saints.

Cranbury Avenue day centre co-ordinator Michelle White from Two Saints said: “Majella was a regular visitor to the day centre over many years.”

Paul Baker who manages the Society of St James’ Southamp-ton Street hostel, said: “I think she was quite vulnerable. She was such a delicate little flower really.

“I’m very sad that she’s gone. She was one of society’s forgotten. She was absolutely |harmless, very kind, very considerate.

“She was one person you couldn’t not help because of her vulnerability and the states she would get into.”

Anyone with any information which may help with the police inquiry should call 101.