AN 88-YEAR-OLD great-grandmother who died following a fall on a bus has been described by her family as a “lovely” and “loving” lady who enjoyed days out and singing along to Songs of Praise.

Dorothy McLaren got onto a bus on Tuesday, January 9, at around 3.55pm when she fell and suffered head injuries.

She was taken to James Cook University Hospital following the fall after getting onto the bus on Acklam Road, near Green lane, in Middlesbrough.

She received treatment for her injuries, but sadly died several days later on Friday, January 12.

Her family have paid tribute to the mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who was married to her husband Robert McLaren, known as Tony, on Valentine’s Day in 1953.

Her family said: “She and Tony loved tea dances, holidays, and many days out with their family and friends, they had a very happy marriage, but sadly she lost Tony in 2015.

“She herself fought cancer and beat it during their last few years together, but with the support and love of her friends and family she managed to build a happy life despite her loss.

“Dorothy was a very fit and active lady, fun days out, Sunday karaoke (Songs of Praise), her keep fit classes and knitting groups with all her friends.”

Her family added: “Her grandchildren and great grandchildren lovingly christened her their ginger biscuit grandma because they knew that grandma would always have a tin of beautiful homemade ginger biscuits lovingly baked and waiting for them whenever they visited.

“Some people may say, ‘well Dorothy was lucky, she has had a good life’, and that’s true, but the thing is, Dorothy was still enjoying her good life, surrounded by her loving friends and now heartbroken family, devastated by her loss.”

Cleveland Police are continuing their appeal for any witnesses of what happened on the bus to contact PC Andy Lawson, of the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit, via non-emergency number 101, quoting event number 005056.