THE DEVASTATED father of Sian O’Callaghan paid an emotional tribute to his daughter yesterday as he faced the media for the first time since her body was found.

Mick O’Callaghan, who was accompanied by Sian’s brother Liam, described the tragic 22-year-old office worker as a ‘bubbly, caring and loving girl’.

Fighting back tears, he said: “As a family we wanted to express a few words about our beautiful daughter, a wonderful sister to Liam, Lora and Aiden and loving girlfriend to Kevin. Sian was a bubbly, friendly, caring and loving girl.

“She was instantly likeable, beautiful and considerate.

“Although our pain at this time is raw and overwhelming, our memories of Sian will be a comfort to us in the dark days ahead.”

On behalf of Sian’s mum Elaine, sister Lora and brothers Liam and Aiden, he thanked the local community for their displays of support over the past week including the lantern lighting at the Polo Ground on Saturday, during which thousands of people lit up the night sky in Sian’s memory.

He also thanked the police for their work during the investigation. He said: “We would like to firstly thank Steven Fulcher and his team for their work in finding and bringing Sian back to us so speedily. Elaine and I, Kevin Liam, Lora and Aiden would like to thank all our friends and family for their continued support, words cannot express how comforting this has been for us.

“We would also like to thank the community in Swindon for their overwhelming kindness and support. The sheer numbers of people involved in the searches, the vigils, flowers, lantern lighting and murals to Sian are incredibly touching and beautiful. Thank you.

“It only leaves me to say a thank you to the press and media for their respect of our privacy for us as a family at this dreadful time and may we ask you to continue that respect of privacy for the coming difficult months.”