TRIBUTES have been paid to a grandmother whose body was found in a town centre park.

Trudy Game, 40, who lived in Harwich until six years ago, died under a bridge by the River Colne in East Street, Colchester.

Her friends said she had struggled with drug and drink addiction throughout her life and was homeless for large periods.

Miss Game’s body was discovered by best friends, Eric Swallow, and Susan Coulson, as they walked her beloved staffie, Stella, on Thursday morning.

Days earlier she had told Mr Swallow that she had slept under the bridge when she was rough sleeping.

She went missing on Wednesday night, one day after appearing in Colchester Magistrates’ Court accused with being drunk and disorderly. A charge she strongly denied.

Mr Swallow, 74, of Brook Street, Colchester, said on the night she disappeared she hugged him and said ‘I love you old man’ before leaving.

He added: “She was very kind and had a wicked sense of humour.

“She worked hard bringing up her children but got addicted to heroin in a homeless shelter.

“When she knew she was in trouble she gave her children to their fathers and concentrated on getting clean.”