A FAMILY collected a degree on behalf of a tragic cancer victim who died before she could attend the awards ceremony.

Angie Walmsley, 29, died on Sunday after a two-year battle with cancer which never affected her determination to get her qualification after four years' study.

Proud parents Philip and Pauline, sister Nicki, brother-in-law Stephen and nephew Harrison attended the ceremony at King George's Hall last night and course tutor Sharon Harper collected the BA Honours Business Studies degree on their behalf.

Nicki, 31, of Waddington Road, Clitheroe, said: "We're all so proud to be here tonight. I graduated five years ago and at the ceremony she said that she wanted to do the same. Even when she fell ill she never wanted to defer any work because she was such a determined person. When she decided she wanted to do something she made sure she did it.

"She even took her studies to Christie's Hospital in Manchester when she was being given radiotherapy.

"She also wanted to graduate at the same time as her friends on the course. They were very close and spent a lot of time socialising outside college. They supported her all the way."

Last night was the second celebration of Angie's success. When the family found out she had passed last summer they threw a party at the family home in Clitheroe which was attended by all her friends from the course.

Chairman of the college's corporation board Mr Derek Hall told hundreds of students and parents at the ceremony: 'We have been able to join with the family in celebrating the achievement of a young lady who was very brave and remarkable."

Tutor Mrs Harper said: "We're here tonight to pay tribute to Angie. Over the years, they all became so close they were like a family and had very strong bonds.

"In fact it was difficult for some of us to come tonight but know Angie would be the first one to say 'come on let's do it'. She was a wonderful person, she had a permanent smile even through adversity and was such a hard worker."

Ribble Valley born and bred, Angie went to primary school at Edisford before going to Ribblesdale High School and later studied childcare at Nelson and Colne College.

A keen traveller, she nannied in Canada and helped out with sick and orphaned children in Romania in 1995 and on her return worked part-time at Eshton Terrace with people with special needs and was also a volunteer at Clitheroe Citizens' Advice Bureau.

Her funeral took place this afternoon at Clitheroe Parish Church followed by interment at Clitheroe Cemetery. Her family have asked for donations in her memory to be made towards The Round Table's Children's Wish which makes dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses.