A TREE is to be planted in Darlington's South Park in memory of a cancer victim.

Thelma Mills, 40, died of lung cancer in September last year - one day after celebrating her 24th wedding anniversary with husband Rob, of Geneva Road. The couple had been childhood sweethearts and had three daughters, Leanne, Suzanne and Caroline and a son Robert.

Since his wife's death, Mr Mills and his sister Barbara Dickinson, have been thinking of a way to treasure her memory.

Mrs Dickinson, of Elmfield Place, Newton Aycliffe, said: "She was a remarkable woman - an absolute saint. She was always there for me and the whole family. We wanted to do something in her memory and approached the council about planting a tree."

Darlington Borough Council has agreed to plant a tree in Mrs Mills' memory as part of a tree planting scheme in the town's South Park next year.

Mrs Dickinson said: "We didn't expect the council to do anything so we were shocked when they said yes. We are so grateful though - it is proof they do do some things for nothing to help people."

Instead of putting a plaque on the tree, the family will tie a yellow ribbon around one of the branches in Mrs Mills' memory and as a tribute to all cancer sufferers in the town.