TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular school dinner lady murdered in her own kitchen in Wembley.

Elif Oruc, 42, a mother of two, died after she was stabbed at her home in Carlton Avenue East, at around 10pm last night.

One of her sons is a pupil at Preston Park Primary School, in College Road. Elif was due to take him on holiday to Florida this summer.

John Redpath, headteacher at the school, where she used to work, said: “She really was a very supportive parent.

“She was just a very positive, lovely person and that is genuine. For us the tragedy is he was extremely close to his mum.

“We only found out this morning. I'm upset because his mum is not going to be there for him anymore.”

Elif's son, who has special needs, is due to move on to Preston Manor High School in September when he will leave behind a comfortable environment, where he is known, for new surroundings.

Mr Redpath said he would do whatever he could to help make the transition easier, even if it meant staff at Preston Park helping out at Preston Manor.

Elif was well known in the community and got on well with many of the parents of Preston Park children.

Mother-of-three Heba El'Helbawi, 32, who lives opposite the house, said her own son knew Elif's boy, and recently went on a school trip with him to France.

She said: “She knew everyone in the road. She used to love talking a lot. She was always telling me about people in the area.

“She smiles a lot. Even her son was always smiling. When I heard I couldn't believe it. I thought maybe it was the house next to theirs. I didn't want to believe it.”

There were no signs of forced entry into the property and no arrests have been made.

The road outside the house has been cordoned off since the attack and forensic experts are still at the scene.

Mrs El'Helbawi said she saw police dogs looking for weapons late last night.

Anyone with information can contact officers on 0208 358 0400, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.