UK diplomat found dead in Lebanon

Rebecca Dykes's family said she was passionate about helping people. Photo courtesy of the family

A British diplomat who worked at the UK embassy in Beirut has been found dead, Lebanese police have said.

Rebecca Dykes' body was found on the side of a motorway on Saturday.

It is believed that the 30-year-old, who was working for the Department for International Development, was killed after meeting friends and colleagues at bar on Friday night.

Known as Becky to her friends, she was last seen at a bar in the Gemmayzeh area of central Beirut and reportedly left alone shortly after midnight.

She had been sexually assaulted and strangled, according to the BBC, who cited information from senior police sources.

A forensic official said authorities were still investigating the exact cause of her death but that she had been strangled with a rope, Reuters reported.

Her family said in a statement: "We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. We are doing all we can to understand what happened. We request that the media respect our privacy."

The British Foreign office released a statement saying: “Following the death of a British woman in Beirut, we are providing support to the family. We remain in close contact with local authorities. Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.”