A market town community has ben plunged into mourning after the shocking death of a bright and popular student who was murdered by her former boyfriend who then killed himself.

The body of 21-year-old Hannah Fisher, from Wootton Bassett, near Swindon, was found at premises in Leicester where she was studying forensic science at university.

The grisly discovery was made by police while investigating the apparent suicide of her ex-boyfriend, Simon Marsh, 22, who was found at another address in the East Midlands city.

Miss Fisher, who left Wootton Bassett nearly four years ago to study at Leicester's De Montfort University, was said have suffered "a number of injuries" at the hands of her former live-in boyfriend.

Detectives believe Marsh, distraught at the couple's recent break-up, drove Miss Fisher to the flat he had moved into after their separation and murdered her.

Marsh then drove back to the up-market flat they had until recently shared and died after hurling himself down the stairwell.

Yesterday Miss Fisher's stunned father Alan Fisher, who lives in Swindon with his partner, said the tragedy had still not sunk in.

He said: "I can't put anything sensible together right now. It's so hard. We're going to miss her terribly.

"It hasn't really sunk in that it's real. It's something that you read about or see on the television - it's not something that happens to you."

Marsh and Miss Fisher had been engaged but were thought to have separated shortly before Christmas.

They moved out of the Alexandra House flats in Leicester city centre, which boasts CCTV and a valet service.

Miss Fisher moved to another address in the city while Marsh went to live in a semi-detached house in Oadby, on the outskirts of Leicester.

They were last seen together at 3pm on Sunday leaving Alexandra House, from where it is believed they drove to Oadby, where Marsh killed her before apparently taking his own life at Alexandra House.

He was found at the bottom of a fire escape stairwell at Alexandra House at 5.45pm, prompting an investigation which led police to discover Miss Fisher's body in Oadby on Monday night.

Dave Gilbert, valet supervisor at Alexandra House, said: "They came in on Sunday afternoon, parked their car and said they would be an hour or two.

"Then they left at about 3pm and Simon said he might be back later, or he might not.

"From what I understand, the pair split up before Christmas and she just wanted to be friends.

"They obviously kept in contact, but I don't think he could accept the fact that they weren't an item any more."

Dave Ladkin, 28, a civil servant who lives at the flats, said he saw Marsh's body at the bottom of the stairs.

He said: "At first I thought he was drunk and had fallen over, but as I got closer I could see blood all around his head."

Another resident, Richard Salter, 40, said: "It looked like he had fallen head-first from a good height."

Det Supt Stuart Prior, who is leading the investigation, said: "From our inquiries we know that Hannah and Simon had lived together at a flat in Alexandra House.

"Their relationship had recently ended and Hannah had moved into accommodation in Leicester, while Simon had just moved into the address at High Leys Drive, Oadby."

He said no-one else was being sought in connection with Miss Fisher's murder and appealed for anyone who saw the yellow Rover, registration number PJ04 VTK, over the weekend in the Leicester or Oadby area to get in touch.

Meanwhile, house-to-house inquiries were continuing in Oadby where forensic experts were examining the scene.

As news of the tragedy spread, the stunned head teacher of Wootton Bassett School where Ms Fisher was a sixth form student, paid a heartfelt tribute.

Chris Montacute said Ms Fisher left the school for university in 2005 after completing her A-levels in biology, chemistry, English and general studies.

He said: "Hannah was a lovely girl with a cheerful disposition. She was always very friendly and helpful, and had lots of friends.

"In addition to her A-levels she gave up her free time to help younger pupils in a mentoring scheme.

"She worked very hard to get a place at university and we were very proud of her."

A spokesman for De Montfort University said: "This is a most tragic loss of a young life and our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to Hannah's family and friends.

"Hannah was a gifted and popular student and she will be missed very much by colleagues and fellow students."

A Facebook tribute page has been set up by friends of Miss Fisher, whose own page on the site said she had worked behind a bar in Leicester since April 2008.

It also showed she had no longer listed herself as "engaged" on December 23.

The tribute page said: "Hannah Louise Fisher, born 8th June 1987, was tragically taken from us on the 18th January 2009.

"At only 21 years of age, she had a happy life ahead of her, full of every wonder a young woman could ever dream of...."

Friends left touching messages on the site.

Kelly Li wrote: "At least the angels will keep you safe now...x x x" and Richard Curtis quoted a poem, with the message: "May your soul Rest In Peace Hannah, You were loved by many, and you will be missed by all..."

On Miss Fisher's MySpace website, last logged into in October 2007, she had posted answers to a whole questionnaire.

They included saying she wanted to be an entomologist, and wanted to get married one day.