STUNNED villagers have paid tribute to a pensioner whose body was found in a York river.

Florence Vokes, 66, of Stillingfleet, was discovered in the Foss near Foss Bank last Wednesday evening.

North Yorkshire Police said yesterday that officers were not looking for anyone else in connection with her death, which was not considered suspicious, and said a full inquest would take place at a later date after being opened and adjourned earlier this week.

Jocelyn Appleyard, who chairs a village history group, the Stillingfleet Chroniclers, of which Florence was a member, said her death had 'knocked' everyone in the village.

"The word is stunned," she said. "Everyone knew Florence and she was respected by the village.

"She was a very kind person but very private. She would remember people's birthdays and get them a card and a gift.

"She would always help out if the Chroniclers had a project and I needed her to help with research, for example in 2009 when we created a roll of former vicars at the village church going back to the 13th century.

"She was a spinster who lived alone since her mother died. She lived in the village for many decades and worked at the Designer Outlet at Fulford."

She added that Florence had been seen by two people on the day she died, on a bus and in Coney Street, York, and they had not noticed any change in her demeanour.

Another villager, Grace Atkinson, said: "She will be missed. Everyone was stunned when they heard what had happened.

"She was very much part of the village scene and was well-known in the village, but was a very private person.

"She was very kind. For example, when the bus company put out a new timetable, she would get copies and post them through the doors of people she knew would be affected." She added that Florence had been a very keen knitter who would show her knitted cardigans at the village produce show.

A close friend, Jane Smith, said: "I keep thinking it's a bad dream and I am going to wake up. I cannot imagine life in the village without Florence.

"She used to spend Christmas with me and my and she was like a part of the family. She was very loyal to me."