Skipton’s Aldi supermarket was still on lockdown on Friday morning after a worker was fatally stabbed by a man who was then pinned down and restrained by hero staff. 

The victim has been named locally as mum Jodie Willsher, 30, who was killed just four days before Christmas. 

Her cousin Chris Swales paid tribute to the 'fun loving, caring person' in a heartbreaking post on his Facebook page. 

He wrote on Friday: "Yesterday we lost a beautiful, fun loving and caring person. 

"How can life be so cruel, a selfless act by one person has left a husband without a wife and a little girl without her mother. 

"You weren't just my Cousin Jodie, you were like the sister I never had and now I'm broken you've gone.

"Be the brightest star in the sky and sleep tight x."

Skipton Mayor Andy Rankine said: "Skipton is a small but close-knit community, where most people know each other. We are in shock about the sad events of yesterday where a store worker was murdered whilst going about her duties. The whole town is in shock and grieving over the loss."

Floods of people have paid online tributes to mum Jodie, from Skipton, who studied at Craven College. 

Mike Wilson-Barrett wrote: "I have been struggling all night with what I wanted to say for fear of breaking down and saying the wrong thing.

"Jodie you were one of a kind. Kind. Caring. Sweet and a great friend. You were the life of the party. 

"You were an awesome school friend and a closer friend out of school. 

"You ARE a fantastic person and mother and I'm sure Mal will say a fantastic wife too. 

"Life can be so cruel sometimes. I WILL always cherish our friendship even if circumstances prevented us from hanging. 

"I always knew I could talk to you whenever. I will also cherish our last talk. Thank you for the kind comments you said about my son and my wife :-)

"I am gutted I will never be able to have them talks with you again :'( I will always think fondly of you. Rest now sweet angel."

Becky Farquhar wrote: "Rip Jodie Willsher xxx beautiful angel xx."

Phil Dowgill said: "I'm so sorry to hear this! Jodie was always smiley and seemed a lovely young lady on our visits there. My thoughts are with all of your family xx."

Flowers with heartfelt messages of condolences could be seen lined up at the top of the car park entrance. 

One message read: "To our dear beautiful sweet friend. We are broken. Sorry we never got our girls night, here's a glass to you."

A sign blockade together with tape tied to lamposts was in place this morning (Fri) stopping cars from entering the car park. 

A police van was parked at the entrance of the Aldi store in Skipton, North Yorks. 

The budget supermarket was due to open its doors at 8am today (Fri) but the shutters remained closed an hour afterwards. 

A spokesperson for Aldi said: "We are working with the police following an incident at our Skipton store".

Witnesses described how Christmas shoppers fled the store amid screams and shouts of "get out" in the moments after the attack.

Brave staff members and shoppers detained the suspect before police arrived at the scene.

One shopper who was in the store at the time of the attack said she had "never been so scared in my life".

The witness, who asked to remain anonymous, heard "loads of screams" then saw Mrs Willsher lying on the floor and the man pinned down as "everyone screamed and ran up and down".

She said: "I just saw the aftermath; I was so scared I ran off.

"All the staff were racing about, not knowing what to do."

Another customer said she had seen Mrs Willsher earlier that day wearing a Christmas jumper on shift.

A 44-year-old local man was initially arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was taken into police custody for questioning.

But police have since launched a murder probe after the 30-year-old victim later died of her injuries while in hospital.

Emergency services were called to the supermarket in Skipton at 3.27pm on Thursday.

The incident is not believed to be terror-related or a hate crime incident. 

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "The suspect was initially detained by brave members of staff and public, before he was arrested by officers who were quickly on scene.

"He was taken into custody on suspicion of attempted murder, but it has now turned into a murder investigation despite the efforts of medics to save the victim.

"The woman's family are being supported by police officers while enquiries continue.

"A police scene guard is in place at Aldi while enquiries continue."