TRIBUTES have been paid to a business entrepreneur and mother-of-four who collapsed and died suddenly at her home.

Marketing firm bosses Mark and Annmarie Carlton had been taking a break from projects when tragedy struck.

Annmarie, 42, collapsed and died from a brain haemorrhage in the garden of their Bolton-by-Bowland home last Tuesday afternoon.

Husband Mark, 45, said: "I found her under an apple tree in her beautiful garden, with her dogs running at her side, the birds singing and the sun beating down on her cheeks.

"She would have suffered no pain and she looked like she had fallen asleep sunbathing."

Today her funeral is set to take place at St Barthomomew's Church, in nearby Tosside, at 4pm and Mark is asking friends and family to ensure it becomes a celebration of Annmarie's life and achievements.

He added: "Annmarie wouldn't want anyone to wear black - she would want people to sing their hearts out in the church and to laugh and cry and hug those that they love."

The service for Annmarie, who was mother to Amy Jo, 19, Lizzie, 17, Lucy, 15, and Hannah, 14, will be conducted by the Rev Mark Russell-Smith.

Together the couple ran AMC Marketing, which they had relocated to Bolton-by-Bowland from Sale in Greater Manchester.

Mark said: "Afterwards we will celebrate the extraordinary life of Annmarie at Tosside Community Hall, where Annmarie and I did yoga every week together.

"To do this we will be playing and listening to her favourite music and eating some of her favourite foods long into the evening. All flowers at the church will be from Annmarie's garden and will be returned after the ceremony."

Donations can be made, in her name, to the Epilepsy Action charity's South East Manchester branch, through Annmarie's family, at 7 Clarendon Road, Sale, M33 2DU.