AN ACCRINGTON family has paid tribute to a "lady who loved to party" after the death of mum-of-one Joanne Shirtcliffe.

Ms Shirtcliffe, 40, of Dill Hall Lane, Church, died on January 10 after a long battle with breast cancer.

Her family said she would be sadly missed.

Sister Jayne Shirtcliffe, 38, said: "She was a really happy, kind and fun-loving person.

"Everybody liked her. She worked as a home carer for Lancashire County Council and it was the perfect job.

"She was a good Samaritan and always had time for everyone."

Ms Shirtcliffe, who attended Moorhead High School, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 and it spread to her liver, bones and brain.

After her diagnosis she moved in with her parents George, 63 and Mavis, 64, with daughter Molly 14.

Jayne said: "She was brilliant dealing with the illness. Even at Christmas she just carried on as usual even though she was so ill."

Among Ms Shirtcliffe's passions were music and art.

Several of her paintings are hung around her parents' home and she loved dance music and clubbing.

Dad George said one of his daughter's happiest times after she was diagnosed with cancer was when she took the controls of an aeroplane last year.

She was given the opportunity to fulfil a life-long ambition and fly a micro-light plane over Morecambe Bay.

The funeral will be held at All Saints' Church, Clayton-le-Moors, tomorrow at 10.30am.