A POPULAR teacher has died of a blood clot caused by the treatment which cured her of cancer.

Gwen Hargreaves, 33, of St Wilfrid's High School and Technology College, Blackburn, died after the clot in her leg broke and caused a brain haemorrhage.

Her parents, Douglas and Eileen, of Sunnymere Drive, today said the chemotherapy that saved her life eventually killed her.

Gwen, a former pupil at the Duckworth Street school, taught textiles and food technology before she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2001.

Her parents were told she was unlikely to pull through but to their delight she did -- and even returned to work.

The couple paid tribute today to their shopaholic daughter who lived life to the full until five weeks ago when she started feeling pain in her right leg.

Gwen, of Snowdrop Close, Leyland, was admitted to Chorley Hospital before being transferred to Royal Preston Hospital.

She never returned home and suffered numerous strokes before she died on March 23.

Douglas, 62 said: "Ironically, the chemotherapy that saved her life eventually killed her. We were told that blood clots are not unusual after chemotherapy. But at least we had three more years. Without it we would not have had those.

"We were told they cannot operate on blood clots. They could only give her something to thin the blood and bed rest. We thought she had got past the worst but she knew something wasn't right."

"What is most annoying is she was a keen Rovers fan, she has a season ticket. She missed the last time Blackburn went to Cardiff with her cancer and she said she'd get there next time, no matter what. But she won't now."

Gwen's funeral is tomorrow at St Peter's Church, Darwen.

Pupils from the school have sent hundreds of cards and are expected to hold a ceremony for her after Easter.

Eileen, 60, added: "She had so many friends all over the world and they have all sent cards. We are all so upset and it has come as such a shock to many.

"I will miss her so much. We have cried a lot but we have also laughed a lot. That's what you have to do. There is so much to smile at. She was always late for everything. She'd be late on Friday if she was here."