"The world has lost a beautiful person" say friends of mum who died on scuba diving holiday in Scotland.

Linda Fentum, of Worcester Road, Malvern, was found dead after being reported missing while diving off the coast of Sutherland near Kinlochbervie.

The inquest into the death of the 64-year-old professional water diviner's death will take place next week.

Linda's friend and fellow dowser Steve Dawson said he was still shocked by her death and she was far too young.

Mr Dawson said: "The world has lost a beautiful person full of warmth and adventure.

"She will be sadly missed by many people and groups throughout England and especially the BSD Water Dowsing Group.

"The world needs good waters and shortly Linda would have been heading off to Africa with a charity called Village-Water to help the locals locate good potable waters.

"Her skills and passion are already sadly missed by everyone."

The mum and grandmother, also known as Linda Prenter, was a keen diver who enjoyed trips abroad.

While scuba-diving off the coast of Scotland she never resurfaced.

Her body was later recovered after police searched for the missing diver.

Longtime friend and fellow water diviner and archaeological dowser John Baker had also paid tribute to Linda.

Mr Baker, from Kent, said: "She is greatly missed by myself and everyone she came into contact with.

"It's a terrible, terrible loss.

"When she was off duty she was great fun and when she was on duty she worked like a trooper.

"She was a very, very quiet person but in her profession, she was very thorough.

"She would just be working from the moment she got up to the time she fell into bed.

"Linda was nonstop, on the go all of the time.

"At the events, they would have dancing or ceilidhs and she would throw herself into them.

"She was great fun. Linda worked hard and she played hard.

"She was one of the best water diviners and there is a huge hole missing in the world of water divining."

Police Scotland released a statement last year when Linda's body was discovered after an emergency search.

“Following searches off the coast of Sutherland near Kinlochbervie, a body has been recovered this afternoon which is believed to be of a diver reported missing on Thursday, 1 July.

"The diver’s next of kin have been made aware and are being supported by officers."

The inquest will take place at Redditch Registration Office on Monday, January 24.