THE SKIES above Queens Park will be filled with balloons this afternoon as friends pay tribute to murder victim Becky Godden-Edwards.

A week after what would have been her 29th birthday, Becky’s friends have organised a memorial where 200 balloons will be released adorned with pictures of her.

Becky was identified last Monday by police after Chris Halliwell, who is currently in custody charged with the murder of Sian O’Callaghan, led them to the body in a field in Eastleach, in Gloucestershire.

Becky’s family reported her missing in 2007 but she had been missing for some time before that.

She was 21 when she was last seen and her parents thought she had moved to Bristol after she left home in 2003.

Leanne Goldsmith, who was Becky’s best friend before she last saw her in 2003 and has organised the memorial service to give her the send off she deserves.

“Becky was a very close friend of mine,” she said.

“The last time I saw her was about 2003. She had her partner and I had mine and we just drifted apart and did our own thing.

“It came as a big shock when I heard the news last week especially because it was on her birthday, it was horrible.

“She used to live with me and my mum so we became very close, she was a beautiful person.

“I wanted to set something up to give her a good send off, I thought no one else would do anything so I decided to do this.

“It is a bit like what they did for Sian, they did the lanterns a week after she went missing so we are doing it a week after Becky was named.

“I think everyone in the town has been affected by what has happened in the last few weeks and I just wanted to do something nice for Becky.”

Leanne is inviting anyone who wants to pay their respects to Becky to join them in Queen’s Park today at 4pm when they will release the balloons.

Later today, Becky’s mum Karen Edwards, stepdad Charlie and brother Steven will be paying their own tributes during a media conference at Gablecross police station.