A photograph has been released of Xin Xin Liu, 39, a Chinese-born linguist who died in her family home in a leafy suburb of Newton Mearns on Tuesday.

Police Scotland said a 38-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death. He is due to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court today, reports the Evening Times.

Mrs Liu, who worked as an interpreter and translator, was described by neighbours as a “lovely girl” who was always smiling as she walked her boys, aged six and 10, to school each day.

She is thought to have moved into the £237,000 house in Beech Avenue in April 2011. Forensic experts sealed off the property as they carried out investigations.

Mrs Liu had come to Scotland to attend a post-graduate course in journalism after studying law and journalism in China. She worked for Glasgow-based website development firm SteadyInternet.

One neighbour described the family as “normal”, adding that their son was in her daughter’s class at Mearns Primary School.

She said: “I saw them on a daily basis going to school doing things families do. She was very nice and friendly.”

A relative of the victim drove up to the property in a red car and parked outside yesterday. The occupant burst into tears as she took in the crime scene before driving off again.

One man, who witnessed the scene after the alarm was raised, said: “I drove back from uni at around 1am. There was lots of police cars and an ambulance outside the property.

“I have lived here for 23 years and nothing like that has ever happened.”

Most neighbours on the street said they had heard nothing until they woke up the following morning to a crime scene.

Forensic officers spent most of yesterday combing the two-storey home for clues as they investigated the woman’s death.

Flowers were also left at the scene.

One message read: “God bless. So sorry to hear this tragic news. May you rest in peace.”

One neighbour said she had met the woman when she first moved in, adding: “They were nice, and the kids were playing with each other at a street party. They had good chat and everything, we got on well. This area is quiet and friendly.”

Another neighbour described the woman as “gorgeous”.

She said: “She was a very nice person. The family kept themselves to themselves. It’s a total shock. We are all a bag of nerves. It’s a very quiet area, you just don’t expect it at all.”