THE funeral will take place today of a mother-of-four who died from a fatal blood clot while returning home from holiday.

Julia Kirton, of Seymour Drive, Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, collapsed as she prepared to board a ferry at the French port of Calais with three of her children and her mother, Jean.

Despite frantic attempts to revive her by medics and doctors who rushed to the scene, she died soon after, surrounded by her distraught family.

The family had enjoyed a holiday in Spain and were returning home on September 19 when tragedy struck.

Her mother, who is 73, of Crosby Court, Eaglescliffe, said: "We had been on holiday in Spain and on the bus back she had complained of a pain in her leg.

"It got quite bad and we started to wonder if it was thrombosis. She said that as soon as she got back she was going to go to hospital.

"We were just about to get on the ship and she said 'I think I'm going to faint'. She did, and from then it was just chaos."

Mrs Kirton said doctors pumped her daughter's heart for 40 minutes, but were unable to save her.

"It was unbelievable," she added.

"The bairns were there. It was just awful."

Mrs Kirton's eldest daughter, who is 21, is taking care of the three youngest children. Their parents split up some years ago.

A funeral will be held for Mrs Kirton at St Bede's Chapel at Teesside Crematorium, in Middlesbrough, at 10.30am today.