The friend of a teenage girl killed by her parents because they believed she brought shame on their family has paid tribute to a "caring, high-spirited and brave young lady".

Nine years ago, 17-year-old Shafilea Ahmed was suffocated with a plastic bag in an apparent "honour killing".

Shafilea's parents, Iftikhar Ahmed, 52, and his wife Farzana, 49, of Liverpool Road, Warrington, were found guilty of murdering their "westernised" daughter at Chester Crown Court on Friday, and were sentenced to life with a minimum of 25 years each.

The trial was a dramatic one, as Shafilea's mother changed her defence to claim that she witnessed her husband attacking their daughter.

The prosecution's case rested on the testimony of Shafilea's sister Alesha, who told the jury her parents pushed Shafilea onto the settee in their house and she heard her mother say "just finish it here" as they forced a plastic bag into the teenager's mouth and killed her in front of their other children.

Speaking outside court, Shafilea's friend Melissa Powner told reporters: "Today we heard those important words. Words that have finally brought our friend the justice she deserves.

"Safilea was a caring, high-spirited and brave young lady who even in her toughest times always strived to remain positive."