HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to “the best teacher there was” a year after tragic Betty Yates was found murdered in her Worcestershire home.

The retired school teacher Mrs Yates, aged 77, was discovered dead at her Dowles Road cottage, Bewdley, on January 4, 2012, causing shock among the tight-knit community in the Wyre Forest.

She had been killed two days before.

The tributes were posted on a Facebook page called ‘RIP Betty Yates, the best teacher there was’, which has 1,023 ‘likes’ and was set up in her memory by former St John’s Middle School, Bromsgrove, pupil Verity Worthington.

Miss Worthington posted: “A year on, you are still greatly missed Betty. You lit up so many lives, and you are our brightest star. Thinking of all your friends and family on this difficult day.”

Kerry Smith wrote: “Gone but never forgotten always be in our hearts Betty x x x x”, and Anne Rose added: “Amen, bless you Betty.”

In another post, Karen Harrison said: “In our thoughts often. RIP Mrs Yates, best teacher ever.”

Louise Bourne simply added: “R.I.P. Betty :) xxx”

Mrs Yates’s body was found lying in her hallway with her head resting on a cushion. She had been beaten with her own walking stick and stabbed four times in the head.

In November, homeless drifter Stephen Farrow, 48, was given two whole-life sentences after being convicted at Bristol Crown Court of Mrs Yates’ murder as well as that of Reverend John Suddards in Thornbury, south Gloucestershire.