THEY are coming together to help a heartbroken family in tragic times.

Friends of young Southampton mum Charlene McCluskey, who was found dead a week after going missing, have launched an appeal to help support her distraught family.

They have set up an online appeal in memory of the 29-year-old and are hoping to receive donations from across the city to help the family with funeral costs and provide for her two sons, aged eight and 12.

The idea came from a group of Charlene’s friends – Ollie and Sally Guy, Jenna Barnaby and Daniel Parker.

Ollie, 34, of Bitterne, said: “I have known Charlene since my teens and she was a really good friend of my wife Sally.

“We just felt helpless so a few of us got together to set up this webpage to see what we could do to support them.

“There are so many people who knew Charlene and have nothing but positive things to say about her and you only have to look at Facebook to see how many messages people sent to her family.”

Ollie added: “Charlene was a wonderful girl, kind, caring and non judgmental. She never had a bad word to say about anyone and I’ve never heard her spoken of in a bad light.

“We are overwhelmed by all the sympathy on the Daily Echo website, so many kind words from people who knew her and those that didn’t.”

The group of friends run Bassett Green Youth FC, of which Charlene’s two sons are members.

As reported by the Daily Echo, Charlene’s mother Fiona told how she had been inundated with messages of love and support for her and for Charlene, with countless offers to help find the former Glenfield and Beechwood schoolgirl, who finished her education at the former Sholing Girls School.

The Daily Echo has also received numerous tributes to Charlene and condolences to the family via our website and Facebook page.

Charlene’s body was discovered earlier this week in woodland near Southampton Common.

The barmaid was found exactly a week after she vanished after leaving work at the Richmond Inn Pub last Wednesday evening.

Police launched a major search for her after she called 101 in a distressed state, leaving officers concerned for her welfare.

Her family, including her boys, assisted with the search by making posters and handing out leaflets around the city.

Officers went door-to-door in Portswood and scoured back gardens with police chiefs committing “significant resources” to aid the hunt, even searching the River Itchen for items belonging to her.

Formal identification has now been made and her family have been informed.

Her death is not being treated as suspicious and a file has been passed to the coroner.