THE MOTHER of a teenager who died of cancer today paid tribute to the 'little fighter' who always put others before herself.

Emma Louise Archer died at her home in Broadfield Road, Fern Gore, Accrington, after a three-year battle with the disease.

The 13-year-old was diagnosed after suffering repeated backache and underwent a staggering 13 courses of chemotherapy and 20 courses of radiotherapy.

The Mount Carmel High School pupil, who died on Thursday, also had three major operations and several minor operations in her fight to beat the cancer.

She received treatment at Queens Park Hospital, Blackburn and Pendlebury Children's Hospital, Manchester and at one stage was given the all-clear by doctors, only for the tumour to reappear three months later.

Her mum, Debbie Gregson, 39, said: "Even though I had always got it in the back of my mind, once the doctors confirmed it was cancer I was floored, gutted. She actually had the tumour removed three times.

She said Emma was a fighter who kept everybody else going through her suffering.

"She was really, really brave and thought about others before she thought about herself.

"She was beautiful to look at and such a beautiful person, so unselfish and really courageous. She put a lot of grown people to shame. She was a little fighter."

A devoted music fan, three of the youngster's favourite songs will be played at her funeral -- If Tomorrow Never Comes, by Ronan Keating, Spirit in the Sky, by her favourite singer Gareth Gates and Angels, by Robbie Williams.

Emma leaves a brother and two sisters. A funeral service will be held at 10.15am tomorrow at St Peter's Church, Richmond Road, Accrington, before burial at Accrington Cemetery.