THE parents of tragic rail death victim Joanne Swain are desperate to know how their daughter died. Richard and Janet Swain, of Chapel Lane, Staplehurst, refuse to believe that no-one on last Friday's 10.37pm train from London Bridge to Canterbury West saw their daughter.

"We're devastated and distraught," said Mr Swain. "We're finding it very difficult to come to terms with. It would be easier if we knew exactly what happened but the reality is we may never know."

Miss Swain's parents said she was a bright, bubbly and vivacious girl who loved reading and animals and had everything to live for. Her job in the City at Dutch bank ABN Amro was going well and the day she died she had been given a very positive annual review from her boss.

Her personal life was also flourishing. She had just bought her first house with her partner of three years, Matthew Richmond, 26, in Staplehurst High Street. "She was really enjoying life," said Mr Swain. "Her relationship was good, her job was going well - she was on a high, just so happy."

"We would rather her death was an accident than she was pushed," said Mrs Swain. "It would make it slightly easier to bear. At the moment we can't look beyond that. The only thing we know is that we need witnesses."

Joanne, who had a brother, Jonathan, 26, with whom she was very close, was a pupil at Staplehurst Primary School, before moving to Angley School, Cranbrook, and on to Cranbrook School at the age of 13. When she left secondary school at 16 she took a year's secretarial course at West Kent College, Tonbridge, before beginning work for the Ministry of Defence in London, where she stayed for six years.

After leaving home at the age of 24, she moved to Buckland Road, Maidstone, and continued to commute to London.