LOVING tributes have been paid to a mother-of-four whose courageous fight against four brain tumours proved an inspiration to all who knew her.

Helen Wrangham died on Saturday surrounded by her family at their home in Yarm Road, Darlington. She was 37.

Today, friends and relatives will gather to fondly remember a woman whose determination to battle against her illness was recognised when she was named Darlington's Wonder Mum.

Mrs Wrangham's children entered her in the competition, run by Asda earlier this year, to find Britain's top mother.

She won the Darlington heat of the contest after judges read the entry from her youngest daughter, Carly.

It read: "Despite the fact she has had four brain tumours and is now going though chemotherapy, she still manages to keep her head and have fun with us.

"We tell her not to do things but she cannot help it. She has always got a smile on her face, even when she is poorly or not feeling well."

Her family said she was overwhelmed with emotion after hearing the children had nominated her.

Mrs Wrangham underwent three operations and radiotherapy to remove tumours in the past four years.

The fourth tumour was inoperable, but she had a second course of chemotherapy to shrink it.

Last night, her husband, Mark, said: "She passed away at home with all the family around her.

"She was amazing. The kids were always trying to do things for her, but she was always independent and wanted to do things herself."

Mrs Wrangham, who lost her brother, Gary Irwin, to the same illness in 1999, worked in the Iceland supermarket, in Yarm Road, for many years.

As well as her husband and Carly, she leaves behind children Symon, Natalie and Marc.

The funeral takes place at Darlington Crematorium, at 3.45pm.