COLLEAGUES and family have paid tribute to a dedicated teacher who has died from cancer aged 44.

Louise Gilroy worked at Borough Road Nursery School, in Darlington, for seven years before she lost her year-long battle for life, on November 14.

During her time at the school she helped scores of children through their first years.

Lynn Millar, headteacher of the school, said: "Louise was a giver, not a receiver, she was loved by all.

"She had lots of ideas and made it fun. She was a surrogate mum to the children and will be very sadly missed."

Mrs Gilroy's husband, Phil, 47, said: "She was such a loving and caring person and never complained. It is unbelievable something so cruel could happen to a person like this."

On December 29 last year, Mrs Gilroy was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and had to stop work.

At the end of term, children at the nursery made her a video.

While at the school, Mrs Gilroy designed and organised a Story Castle - a themed library.

In her memory, the school is to buy some friendship benches for a wooded area in the school garden that Mrs Gilroy loved.

Dodmire Infant School, in Rydal Road, is to dedicate part of its new nursery unit to the memory of Mrs Gilroy, as it had close associations with her.

Mrs Gilroy, who lived in Rivergarth, Darlington, leaves her husband and their children Jonathan, 21, Adam, 19, Caroline, 17 and Andrew, 14, as well as her parents, Mary and Ray Walker.

The family have already raised almost £400 for Cancer Research UK.

Anybody who knew Mrs Gilroy and wants to donate money can give to the charity or the school, to help pay for the benches. Contact Mrs Millar on (01325) 380785.