Police in Thailand were today treating as suspicious the death of a 26-year-old British woman whose body was found today in a backpackers' hotel.
The body of Jayne Nixon was discovered in the £6-a-night Rama Hotel in Thailand's capital Bangkok.
The former legal secretary had only left England last Monday at the beginning of a round-the-world trip aimed at helping her to get over the breakdown of a long-term relationship.
A spokesman for the Thai police revealed that they were looking for a man who checked into the hotel with Jayne on Friday. They said he was being sought as a "matter of urgency".
His name and nationality have not been released.
No details of how Jayne died have been revealed but it is understood that there were no signs of injuries on her body.
Her father, William, a retired company secretary who worked in the City said the whole family was "extremely upset" and "distressed" by the news.
He said the Foreign Office had yet to confirm her identity and that the family were now "just waiting", but had little doubt that their daughter was dead.
Speaking from the family home in Kencot, Oxfordshire, Mr Nixon told PA News: "We don't know what has happened to her. She only rang the other day from Thailand. She was travelling alone and she had saved up her money and wanted to go travelling and see some of the world.
"She was heading to Perth in Australia and then hopefully to New Zealand. We weren't expecting her back for several months. I think she was just stopping in Thailand for a few weeks to see the country. We're all obviously deeply upset at the moment."
Mr Nixon, who was being comforted by his wife Sandra and children Chris, 28, and Sara, 30, said Jayne had decided to go travelling after splitting from her partner of six years in the summer and selling their joint property in Tring, Herts.
"She was no fool and knew the risks involved in travelling. I cannot understand what has happened. We're all devastated. She wanted to go away for some time and had saved up to go. We'll be going to Thailand when the Foreign Office have some news for us."
Two years ago another British backpacker was found dead in Thailand. Kirsty Jones, 23, a Liverpool University graduate was found raped and murdered in a guesthouse in Chang Mai, 500 miles north of Bangkok.
No one has ever stood trial for her murder and Thai police were criticised for their investigation and lack of professionalism.
PA