A YOUNG woman was found dead in a Cornish woodland just hours after a desperate plea from her boss on a website for people to help find her.

Laura Hoskin, 23, a medical secretary at a GP practice, was discovered in her car in Prideux Wood, near the Eden Project, on Tuesday afternoon.

Just hours before, her worried boss had posted an alert on the social networking site Facebook, urging anyone had seen or heard from her to get in touch.

At around 1.50pm, Dr Penny Tempest, of the Polkyth Surgery in nearby St Austell, had written: "If anyone hears from Laura please contact me! It's very urgent."

Devon and Cornwall Police have so far refused to confirm that the dead woman was Miss Hoskin.

But as news of the tragedy spread, family and friends flooded her Facebook page with dozens of touching tributes.

Her heartbroken sister, Victoria Hoskin, wrote: "Thank you to everyone for the messages and texts.

"We will miss our sister, daughter, auntie, cousin and friend so much.

"Please remember Lor for the very kind and bubbly girl, with the infectious giggle that she was.

The tribute continued: "Love you so much Lor, always in our heart."

Miss Hoskin, who lived at Bodmin and was single, last updated her Facebook page at 4.47am on Monday. It read: "Laura Hoskin has been up since 3.30am. Come on gimme a break."

However on Saturday at 4.30pm she had written that she had had "a lovely time last night".

Traci Watts wrote to Laura's sister Victoria: "Loads of love to you and your family, Vick. I can't stop thinking how terrible it must be for you all.

"At least feel blessed that you were lucky enough to have had her in your lives to bring you all so much happiness and laughter, even if it wasn't for long enough."

Kay Rickard said: "You will be missed by so many people that had the pleasure of ever knowing you. You sweet girl. Rest in peace."

Kelly McGall wrote: "RIP Laura. Such fun times growing up together. In my thoughts now and forever."

Charlotte Hankin said: "Such sweet messages from everyone in your life, you touched many. My love and thoughts are with your family who are probably reading these and really seeing what a great network of friends you had and that will be there for them too.

"I keep expecting to turn the corner and see you, goodnight angel, your safe now, no one can ever hurt you there. You'll never be forgotten here."

Miss Hoskin had been a pupil at Poltair School before studying at Cornwall College.

She had been employed at the surgery since 2005.

Doctors at the surgery last night declined to comment. But Dr Tempest posted her own message on Facebook saying: "Laura. Never felt like your boss, always thought of you as the closest thing to my baby sister. Gonna miss you so much, be at peace my angel."

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police last night refused to confirm or deny the dead woman was Miss Hoskin.

He said: "We can confirm that police officers discovered the body of a 23-year-old local woman in a car in Prideux Wood.

"No formal identification has yet taken place.

"There are no suspicious circumstances.

"The file has been passed to the coroner."