TRIBUTES have been paid to a mother who was smothered to death in front of her adopted son.

Janice Farman, from Clydebank was killed by a gang of thieves who broke in to her home in Mauritius around 1am yesterday.

The 47-year-old was the Managing Director of Pecs Mauritius Ltd, a data and document scanning firm.

A post mortem revealed her cause of death to be asphyxiation due to compression of the neck, according to local media reports.

Police received a report about the murder, and are reported to have discovered Janice lying in bed, having been smothered with a pillow.

She is understood to have lived on the island since 2004 and had a 10-year-old autistic son Gavin, who she adopted as a baby.

Her son, who is now on the care of child protection officers in Mauritius, is believed to have raised the alarm by telling a family friend his mum was "not breathing" and there was blood on her mouth.

Colleagues and friends of the popular, fun-loving woman, have paid tribute to her on social media.

Friend Sophie Harris wrote: "RIP Janice and I hope someone takes good care of that little boy, he has been through so much already himself.

"I still remember how excited Janice was during the adoption process, she couldn't stop smiling."

Another friend, Alegria Chris, said: "RIP Janice. I hope we'll catch your murderers asap. For those [you were] working with, you were a woman who had heart, extraordinary even... always help[ing] people in need or who wanted advice.

"For me you will remain the best CEO I've ever had. All my sympathies and especially [to] Gavin."

Colleague Irshad Muttur, added: "I am both saddened and revolted.

"She was such a good person. Back then she had agreed to deliver training at the Service Centre even if she already had lots of commitments.

"She always helped others."

Friend Shireen Motala said: "It's terrible. She was my very good friend and client.

"I'm really shocked.

"She was just a wonderful person. May her soul rest in peace. Courage for the family, especially to her son."

Janice's employer, Stephen Littlechild from PECS data services, said yesterday in a statement: "Last night our MD in Mauritius Janice Farman was brutally murdered in her own home.

"In view of these tragic events, we have decided to close our Mauritius office today, so we can make sure all our team have access to counsellors and as a mark of respect to a wonderful lady.

"Our thoughts are with Janice's family, friends and colleagues."

The thieves who robbed her home in the Albion area of the paradise island made off with jewellery, her car, a tv and games console.

Her car has since been found in the Trois Mamelles mountain region of Mauritius, around 10 miles from the quiet town of Albion where Janice had recently moved.

One man has been arrested in connection with the incident, and local police are still searching for two others.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are assisting the family of a British woman following her death in Mauritius, and are in contact with the local authorities”.