A CHARITY champion known throughout East Lancashire died after disappearing during a diving trip in southern Ireland.

Heather Schofield, 25, a geography teacher at Moorland School, Clitheroe, became separated from friends off the coast of Dingle, a town in County Kerry.

Her body was pulled from the sea two hours after the alarm was raised. Her mother was also holidaying in the area at the time of the tragedy.

Police suspect the death, on Monday, may have been caused by her oxygen tank running low and have sent her equipment for a technical examination.

Heather, of Whalley Road, Hurst Green, was president of Ribble Valley Rotaract, a club for young men and women which raises money for charity and made an impression on every one she met with her drive and enthusiasm.

Today, John Garner, a former president of Blackburn Rotaract, where Heather was a member until last July, said: "She was a wonderful person to know, and so full of life.

"She made a real impact and was known throughout the area for her work with us.

"She was very adventurous and loved diving, she had done it a lot. One crumb of comfort is that she died doing something she loved.

"She leaves a massive hole to fill."

In 2002, Heather, whose mother lives in Whalley, was president of the committee which organises Blackburn's annual bonfire in Witton Park, raising thousands of pounds for charity, including the Lancashire Evening Telegraph's Magic Eye Appeal, which raised money for a cancer scanner.

The previous year, the bonfire had almost been cancelled due to a lack of support, but hard work by a team, including Heather, helped bring in sponsors.

The year she was in charge, charitable donations doubled from £6,000 to £12,000.

Sheila Shaw, Magic Eye appeal co-ordinator, said: "Heather put her hand to fundraising and inspired the Rotaract to back the appeal. Her dedication was admirable and she was clearly a woman of great spirit who will be sadly missed."

Ribble Valley Rotaract's monthly meeting at the Edisford Bridge pub, near Clitheroe has been cancelled tonight as a mark of respect.

Karen Brown, who became friends with Heather through the charity organisation, said: "This is such a shock, she was such a bubbly person.

"She had time for everyone and was one of those people you always wanted to get to know better."

Police said the diving party had left Dingle in an inflatable boat. Heather and a male member of the group dived shortly after 10am but she went missing soon afterwards. Others then dived but failed to locate her.

The alarm was raised and a rescue helicopter scrambled, along with coastguards.

Emergency services said Heather's body was found further down the coast at Bull Head.

A spokesman for the Irish Police said that post mortem tests were due to be carried out on Heather's body at a hospital in Tralee, the main hospital in the area.

Then arrangements will be made for Heather's body to be flown back to the UK.

Today, the Hurst Green community where Heather lived in a terrace house overlooking Whalley, was trying to come to terms with her death. Cecilia Holden, a neighbour, said: "It is terrible news, she was such a lovely girl."