Leading councillors have paid their respects to an “engaged and sympathetic” volunteer and charity worker who was killed by her neighbour.

Trevor Gibbon, of Windsor Crescent, was jailed for life at the Old Bailey yesterday for stabbing 45-year-old Alison Morrison to death in the street.

A Which? senior manager, Alison also served on the Safer Neighbourhood Board and worked with Harrow Police and the council.

Harrow council leader Councillor David Perry said: "Alison has been sorely missed – her energy and enthusiasm in working with her colleagues on the Harrow Safer Neighbourhood Board made her a delight to be around.

"This sentence will not bring her back, and our thoughts are with her friends and family at what must be a difficult time for them."

Mrs Morriosn, a wife and mother, was also a dedicated charity volunteer.

Cllr Susan Hall, leader of thecouncil's Conservative group, said: “This sentence will hopefully mean Trevor Gibbon spending the rest of his life in prison, but even this can never compensate for someone like Alison being taken from her loved ones in such a vile and cowardly way.

“Her loss is of course felt most profoundly by her family and close friends, but Alison also made an enormous impact on those she worked with.

“During her time on Harrow’s Safer Neighbourhood Board Alison’s genuine compassion shone through.

“She was engaged, sympathetic to those who needed help and, above all, committed to making Harrow a better place to live. She will be thoroughly missed by us all.”