Mum killed in Spain 'did everything for her children'

A British mother-of-three who has been killed in Spain was "just fantastic in every sense of the word", her devastated friend has said.

Victoria Hart, aged 33 and originally from Solihull, died on 24 January in the town of Alhaurín el Grande in Andalusia, between Marbella and Malaga.

The local council said it was being treated "as a possible case of gender violence". The BBC has not yet independently confirmed reports of an arrest.

Maxine Hill, who lived in the town and was friends with the popular beauty salon owner, said: "If you looked up the definition of mother, that was her, she did everything for those kids."

She has set up a GoFundMe page to support her friend's children in the aftermath of her death.

"Victoria did not stop working and those kids had everything they could possibly want, and they deserve to still have that," she said.

"Everything that life has thrown at them recently and specifically the family, you just think, 'What can I do to help?'"

Victoria Hart moved to Alhaurín el Grande, which has a population of about 27,000, in 1999 with her parents and sister.

The town is on the northern slope of the Sierra de Mijas mountain range and according to its tourist board offers "views over olive groves, fruit orchards, and market gardens of the Guadalhorce Valley".

The family quickly became friends with other expats who had relocated from England.

"Any sort of expat or British-speaking person over there, you automatically become friends with," said Hill, from north Wales.

"But there was a tight-knit group of us, specifically Victoria, her sister Jemma and then our other close friend and myself, just stuck together."

The mother of three went on to open multiple salons in the town called Victoria Hart Hair and Beauty.

"Even when she had the babies she was back to work almost immediately, even too much of a worker sometimes - I don't think she ever had a sick day in her life."

Her children are being cared for by her family who are "carrying the full financial responsibility for the children's immediate needs".

Money raised during the fundraiser will go towards essentials such as food, clothing, utilities and day-to-day care.

"We are raising funds to help ease this immediate burden and to provide some stability for the children while the family navigates the unimaginable," said her friend.

"She was beautiful, absolutely beautiful. It's hard to tell you what she was, because at the moment I still don't believe what's happened."

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson confirmed it was "supporting the family of a British woman who died in Spain and we are in contact with the local authorities".

The Guardia Civil in Malaga has been contacted for a statement.

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