A MOTHER recorded a fairy tale legacy for her two children as she was dying from cancer, so they would never forget the sound of her voice.

Sonya Short, refused treatment to save her unborn child, but the breast cancer, diagnosed six years ago while she was pregnant with son Charlie, proved too much and she lost her fight for life.

She ensured her children would be able to hear her voice by making a tape recording of the Chronicles of Narnia story for Charlie, five, and Molly, eight.

Husband Kevin, 37, of Blaydon, Gateshead, said: "Her devotion to her family was unmatched. Her decision to delay her cancer treatment to save Charlie is testament to that.

"And these stories are another example of that. She wanted to make sure that whenever they were missing her they could hear her voice and feel she was always with them."

Mrs Short, 35, faced having an abortion or losing a breast and taking a chance that the cancer would not spread.

She refused chemotherapy, believing the cancer would never have been discovered if she had not been pregnant and therefore her unborn child had saved her life.

Charlie was born on March 19 1996, weighing 7lb 13oz. Hours later, Mrs Short was given chemotherapy.

But, after a routine check-up, it was discovered the cancer had returned.

After spending Christmas at home, Mrs Short moved to a hospice in Newcastle where she died last Tuesday.