THREE young brothers lost their mother weeks before her sister also died.

The children's plight touched a secret Santa so much that she showered the grieving boys with Christmas presents.

Sheona and Terri Rafferty's mother, Linda, 48, who now cares for her grandsons full-time, said: "It was such a shock. A lady turned up at our house and had loads of presents for all my grandkids.

"I think a few of them had clubbed together, but I don't even know what her name is. It completely took us by surprise and just shows there are lots of nice people out there.

"I would love to thank the lady more, but I know she didn't do it for thanks - it was just pure kindness."

Sheona, 27, who battled with breast cancer for two years, died in June, leaving behind sons Cameron, ten, Lewis, eight, and Bradley, who will be five on New Year's Eve.

Weeks after her death, sister, Terri, 24, lost her fight with brain cancer that had left her blind and partially paralysed.

The double tragedy has left mother-of-four Linda to look after her three grandsons at her home in Longbenton, Newcastle. She said: "The boys are doing okay - as well as can be expected. We are putting a brave face on it this year.

"Christmas has been as normal as it can be in the circumstances.

"In fact, I want to thank everyone who has been kind to us through the year, from the Marie Curie Centre, where Sheona was before she died, to Greggs, where Terri worked."