REBECCA Rice's grieving mother today opened her heart to pay a glowing tribute to the teenage daughter who was also her best friend.The alleged murder of 18-year-old Rebecca has left her mother's life in pieces, unable to leave the house and comforted only by the love and support of her daughter's friends and family.

REBECCA Rice's grieving mother today opened her heart to pay a glowing tribute to the teenage daughter who was also her best friend.

The alleged murder of 18-year-old Rebecca has left her mother's life in pieces, unable to leave the house and comforted only by the love and support of her daughter's friends and family.

Anne Rice, of Potsford Run, Letheringham said: “She was my best friend and I really don't know how I am going to live without her.

“She moved back to Suffolk to be closer to me and she was talking about going skiing in February and said we could go come as well.

“She seemed so mature, knew what she wanted to do and even talked about going back to school and finishing her A Levels and she had so many ideas.”

Rebecca was due to start work for Suffolk Coastal District Council on the Monday following her death and her mum said she had talked about beginning an apprenticeship as a plumber or electrician.

But she died before any of her ambitions could be realised, stabbed to death at her home in The Street, Pettistree.

Her body was found 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.

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

Rebecca enjoyed time with her mother riding her beloved Bobby - it was a hobby her and her mum loved and shared.

Mrs Rice said: “She started riding at the age of four. I would ride and she would sit in front of me. She did very well on Bramble and about three years ago we got Bobby from Clive Brittain's stables in Newmarket.

“I remember the first time she rode him she said 'I can't stop, I haven't got any brakes'. She found the brakes and he turned into a great show jumper because of her and the best was yet to come. That last week when we were riding she said 'I will have other horses but none of them will mean as much to me'. We did lots of things together.”

Rebecca's enthusiasm for life and desire to help others was always evident.

Her mother said: “She was very helpful. My friend had cancer and was the guide leader and brownie leader in Charsfield and I said I would run it for six months. Rebecca was great - she came every Wednesday to help me.

“She often read in church and was always willing to contribute. I think she had a strong faith.”

This loyalty and commitment she shared with her friends and hundreds of cards have been sent to the family home in sympathy.

Flowers line the approach to the house and Rebecca's friends call regularly.

One of the most poignant tributes came in a letter and CD from Rebecca's cousin Emma Summerhayes, ten, who penned a song for Rebecca, speaking of how much she would miss her.

The words included: “All the times you played with me, me and you together; All the things you shared with me; I can't imagine life without you.”

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.