STAFF and pupils at St Augustine's High School in Billington have been paying tribute to their devoted teacher Margaret Ainsworth, who lost her battle with cancer.

Pupils said prayers for 47-year-old Margaret in school this week and will be holding a memorial service to celebrate her life later this term.

Headteacher Anthony McNamara said the school felt "empty and sad" without much-loved Margaret, who had been a hard working and caring member of staff since 1975.

"What was so special about Margaret was, not only that she was an outstanding head of department and teacher, but she gave everything. She had so much energy and commitment, both to her family and also to the school. She is a deep loss and we are all very upset to lose her," he said. Margaret joined the school in 1975, after opting to stay after she had done her teaching practice there.

She taught English and became head of English in 1998. She organised poetry competitions, school trips to everywhere from Italy to America, visits to the theatre and was also a governor for several years and was involved in the PTFA.

A devout Catholic, hundreds of former pupils and staff, as well as family and friends, turned out to her requiem mass held at St Joseph's Church in Audley Range on Saturday .

A hymn written specially for her by the school's head of music Peter Rose and Anne Conlan was performed by the school choir. Mr McNamara said staff who had visited Margaret in hospital during her illness, said they had come away feeling uplifted.

"She was such a lovely person. She always knew where other people were coming from. Everyone said they came away from seeing her feeling uplifted and good about themselves. She could do that to people.

He added: "In all the time I taught with her, I never saw her lose her temper. She was always patient but quite firm."

Margaret, who lived in Great Harwood, married Geoff Ainsworth in 1978 at St Joseph's Church in Blackburn, and they had three daughters, Lucy, Sophie and Jessica, who all attended St Augustine's.

Lucy, 20, said: "She didn't like a lot of fuss made about her. When we went to visit her in hospital, we'd come out feeling better about ourselves. She was a really cheery person."

She had originally been diagnosed with cancer two years ago, but fought it off. The disease returned in the summer 2001.