A MEMORIAL service is being held to celebrate the life of a much-loved Port Glasgow woman who tragically died after being shot in America.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects to Elizabeth Sutherland at St Francis' Church in her home town later this week.

Elizabeth, 64, was killed outside her flat in Birmingham, Alabama in December.

She moved to America to start a new life with her husband Edward Peterson, whom she married four years ago.

But it's believed the couple were subsequently estranged and it is understood she moved into a flat just a few weeks before she died.

She was also known as Liz Peterson and worked for Children of Alabama medical centre and was studying for a degree in social work.

Police in Alabama have pursued possible leads over the last seven months but no-one has come forward with vital information to take the case forward.

Elizabeth's niece Cathy Wilkes made an appeal on American television earlier this month over her aunt's death.

Cathy said she spoke to her every day and is haunted by her death.

She recounted taking a telephone call telling her about the tragedy, saying how neighbours had heard yelling and gunshots.

Cathy says Elizabeth was shot twice in the chest and head at point blank range and she doesn't know why anyone would want to hurt her aunt.

She said: "There was no robbery, nothing was taken and she wasn't involved in anything crazy that would put her in a situation like this."

Elizabeth has two brothers and a sister-in-law who live locally but didn't want to comment when approached by the Telegraph about the service.

The service of remembrance will take place on Friday at 9.30am and all family and friends are welcome.