EIGHT arrests have been made in the fast moving investigation into the murder of former Joy's Green man Craig Hodson-Walker.

Craig's family and friends in the Forest continued to pay tribute to his bravery.

Craig was born in Cardiff, but lived in the Forest for 17 years before moving to Bromsgrove in 2003. He went to Lakers School and the Royal Forest of Dean College.

Kerry Baldwin of Five Acres grew up with Craig and went to school with him. She said: "I couldn't believe it when I heard the news. Obviously we are all very shocked and upset to hear about his death. We used to travel on the school bus together.

"He was a nice boy – very sensible and quite quiet."

Craig became engaged to fiancée Lisa Bundy of Ross at Christmas and she was planning to move to be with him.

Miss Bundy said: "He was wonderful and my soulmate and best friend. We enjoyed socialising with friends, having time for ourselves and making plans for the future. Now I have had my future destroyed. Craig deserves for them to get caught because he didn't deserve to die like that.

"I can't even start to describe the pain – it feels like someone has ripped out my insides. It just seems like a bad dream."

His mother Judy said: "Why did such a beautiful, honest, hard working human being have his life taken away in that way?

"He didn't do anybody any harm and will be so greatly missed by each and everyone who knew him. I just don't understand why it happened like it did – it all just seems so senseless."

"I would just like to say that both my husband and myself are so proud of the way he led his life and defended us to the end – and how incredibly brave he was.

"Someone, somewhere knows something about who did this and they should come forward and help the police because those responsible don't deserve any kind of life as they have snuffed out my son's life in the most horrific way."

The 29 year-old was shot during an armed robbery on a sub post office in Fairfield near Bromsgrove on Friday, January 9.

Four people were arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and four other people have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Police are still looking for witnesses who saw a silver Volkswagen Golf, registration W337 DDN before or after the event.

Anyone with information should contact the police on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.