Hundreds mourn university lecturer Claire Chick at candlelit vigil in Plymouth

A lighthouse has been lit up in memory of a university lecturer who died last month.

Claire Chick, 48, was found seriously injured on West Hoe Road in Plymouth on January 22, and died in hospital.

Her daughters Bethany and Lydia held a vigil on Monday evening during which Smeaton's Tower lighthouse turned green, Ms Chick's favourite colour.

A crowd gathered to light candles and a silence was observed.

Lydia Peers, said after the vigil: "I’d like to thank you all for coming this evening to the vigil set for our mum."

"Just goes to show how much she was loved by many.

"I would have said something publicly but couldn’t quite manage.

"I hope we’ve done you proud ma, and we will continue to do all it takes to make you proud and bring you justice, but it will never soothe the pain neither bring you back into our lives."

It comes after Paul Antony Butler, 53, appeared before Truro Crown Court last week accused of killing Ms Chick.

The defendant, of Stangray Avenue, Plymouth, spoke only to confirm his name during the brief hearing.

Butler did not enter any pleas to the two charges of murder and possession of a bladed article.

He was remanded into custody and will next appear before Plymouth Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on March 3.

Butler was located and arrested in the Liskeard area of Cornwall, which is around 20 miles from Plymouth, on January 23.

Ms Chick, who was previously known as Claire Butler, worked as a lecturer at the University of Plymouth.

In a previous statement released by police, her family said: "We are absolutely devastated and broken at the loss of our beautiful caring mother Claire Chick.

"She was the most beautiful lively soul and was there for everyone.

"Everyone who knew our mum had so much positive words to say about her. She was the life and soul of any place where she was.

"She loved to dance and sing, even though she was pretty bad at it; she had no shame in doing it in front of any audience.

"We will never get over this as a family, she was our glue and our go-to. We won't ever get the justice our mum deserves for this, because no amount of justice will bring her back.

"We want to thank everyone for their kind words, and we invite anyone who knew her to share their memories of her.

"We also would like to remind the public she leaves behind five beautiful grandchildren who all refer to her as 'a favourite grandma'.

"We ask you to respect their privacy, and everyone remains respectful to them.

"She may be gone but her spirit will always remain alive. We love you mum, and we promise to make you proud."

Read more about the case here.