Friends of a mum-of-two who was found dead in Bromley have paid tribute to an "inspirational" young woman.

Sophie Cavanagh, 31, was found dead on May 20 at Dryden House on Chatterton Road.

Stacey Lyons, 28, was best friends with Sophie after they met 10 years ago. They both lived in Selsdon, Croydon and went into business together.

“It was friendship at first sight,” Stacey told News Shopper. “I am struggling to accept that just last week Sophie was round my house cuddling my three-week-old daughter while her daughter was raiding the sweet cupboard.

“My son was showing Sophie his latest gymnastics moves on the sofa and her son was trying to take me on in a boxing match and now I can’t even text her. It was always chaos when we got together but now I miss it more than ever. It’s a very surreal feeling.”

Some of Stacey’s cherished memories are hitting the town with Sophie before supporting each other after becoming parents.

She added: “We had some of the best nights from what I remember. A night out with this party girl is never a sober one. However, it wasn’t until we had our children that we really valued each other's friendship.

“I was her babysitter, she was mine, I was her shoulder to cry on when the kids were driving her mad and she was mine.

“We borrowed each other's clothes, shared birth stories and held each other's hand when we finally plucked up the courage to take the kids out for the day.”

Stacey has set up a fundraising page for her friend to cover the costs of the funeral and to support Sophie's two children.

She said: “Her poor babies are now without their mummy and my heart bleeds for them. Please donate to the fundraising page every little helps to try and build a future for her children.

“I can’t explain how much I miss her, she was my best friend, business partner and the only one who puts up with my banter on a daily basis.”

Angie Sidwell, 46, worked with Sophie for the past two years.

News Shopper:

Remembering her friend she said: “Sophie was the best mummy to her two little angels and she was so proud of their many achievements growing up.

“She was a real inspiration to everyone with juggling work and supporting her children as well as making time for her friends and family.

“She had the biggest heart and we will make sure that we keep her in our treasured memories forever.”

Kerry Pinder, 30, went to Charles Edward Brooke School in Lambeth with Sophie.

“In school she was lovely,” Kerry said. “We had such a great laugh.

“One of my favourite memories was when we got separated in science class because we were giggling too much.”

Kerry said Sophie was one of the only girls she felt comfortable crying in front of after she was diagnosed with epilepsy.

The school pal paid tribute to Sophie by adding: “She was just a lovely, kind, supportive person and a great mum.

“The way she spoke about her kids, she loved them to bits.”

The estranged husband has been charged with murder.

A post mortem examination found a provisional cause of death as compression of the neck.

Martin Cavanagh, 35, has been charged with murder.