TRIBUTES have been paid to a much-loved Bishop Auckland beautician who died recently.

Yvonne Cable (nne Brown) of Cockton Hill Road’s The Beauty Studio died last month after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

The 52-year-old from Kenilworth Avenue ran the salon for over 20 years until a fire forced her to move to a flat above Carol Gittins florist in 2005.

The mother-of-two trained at Bishop Auckland College in 1989 and returned as a part time beauty lecturer in 1994.

Staff will pay tribute to her next week when a memorial award will be given to the high achiever of its Level 3 Beauty Therapy course.

After falling ill with cancer in 2006 Ms Cable moved The Beauty Studio to Lush on Fore Bondgate, where colleagues are planning a commemorative plaque.

The booming business began from Ms Cable’s garage at her old home on Rochester Close in Etherley Dene where she established a client base.

"She had it all set out professionally, it was quite posh for a garage," said Dianne Watson, close friend and beauty lecturer at the college.

"She was the sort of person who was so unique.

"Whatever person she met, however high or low, she always made them feel special."

Ms Cable leaves behind two daughters Kaye Lightfoot, 32, and Fiona Mitchell, 34, as well as four grandchildren, partner Ian Cameron and mother Iris Brown.

Mrs Lightfoot said: "The Beauty Studio wasn’t just somewhere you would go for a treatment, you were going to see a friend.

"A lot of people confided in her and they are going to feel the loss."

Mrs Brown said: "She meant everything to us. She was the ideal daughter. "She started from the bottom and worked hard to get to the position that she was in.

"She was a bit of an agony aunt too and she knew exactly what to say to you."

Over £1,200 was donated to Bishop Auckland’s Butterwick Hospice following a collection at Ms Cable’s funeral on Friday May 22.

Mrs Mitchell added: "She was very popular. She was always laughing, always smiling.

"Even when she was ill she was making jokes."