DEVASTATED friends of stabbed teenager Rebbeca Rice have spoken of their love for their bubbly and loyal friend.Described as a friend to everyone and always willing to meet someone new, Rebecca's death has left a gap in the lives of her closest friends Hannah Law, Rozz Ingate, Grace Kelway, Emma Crofts and Holly Barfoot.

DEVASTATED friends of stabbed teenager Rebbeca Rice have spoken of their love for their bubbly and loyal friend.

Described as a friend to everyone and always willing to meet someone new, Rebecca's death has left a gap in the lives of her closest friends Hannah Law, Rozz Ingate, Grace Kelway, Emma Crofts and Holly Barfoot.

Hannah, 18, said Rebecca would be missed by so many people.

She said: “Rebs was close to so many people. She gave her time to so many different people. She said 'I don't have one best friend, I have so many'. With most people you would think that was rubbish but it was true - she had a bond with so many people.

“If you were in a room with a whole group she could make you feel like you were the only person there and the only person that mattered.

“I used to be quite timid and Rebs always told me the best way to deal with things was to be yourself and not to be pressured into things by other people. She made the first few weeks of sixth form for me. I think I would have left if it hadn't been for her.”

Rozz, also 18, added: “She was the first one to say hello and she was the last one to leave. She had a lot of spirit and was bubbly.”

Rebecca was found stabbed to death at her home in The Street, Pettistree, on August 6.

She had moved back to Suffolk from Essex shortly before her death and only spent five months away.

Prior to moving she had studied at Thomas Mills Sixth Form and had a university place to study forensic science lined up but she left the sixth form at Christmas.

Her friends spoke of her love for horses, her pet Chihuahua Twinkle and her car, a Renault R5.

They said she got into the car scene through an ex-boyfriend and had modelled in motoring magazine Max Power and attended some car shows.

While in Essex she spent some time grooming dogs at a kennel but returned home to Suffolk to her family and her horses.

Holly Barfoot, 18, a friend since primary school, said there was some suggestion other friends may modify Rebecca's car in her memory.

To her closet friends though, Rebecca was their confidante, always there to listen, as well as to have a laugh and some fun.

Holly added: “I think sometimes people say she was a party girl but she was way more than that. You could spend an evening in with her and have such a good girly chat about serious things.

“Saying she was loyal is so true. She put her friends before herself and even before her health.”

Grace, 18, added: “She was the kind of girl who would be talking about something serious one minute and then she would make a quick joke. You would have a serious conversation and she would come out with something silly.”

Emma, 18, added: “She knew how to be serious though, and she has a sense of occasion. She was really intelligent but she didn't show it off. She was modest about that, at sport she was more showy.”

Rebecca was a house captain at school and broke Thomas Mills' hurdle record - she also spent a year running the hurdles for Ipswich Harriers but it was horses that were her real passion.

Her friends said she was a lover of animals and a lover of life and Anne Rice, Rebecca's mum, said she hoped Rebecca's friends would live rich lives in her memory but never forget her daughter.

Rebecca's funeral will take place at Wickham Market church at 2pm on September 12, followed by burial at Letheringham church.

Stuart Adcock, 33, of The Street, Pettistree, has been charged with murdering Rebecca. He will appear before Ipswich Crown Court at a later date.