TRIBUTES have been paid to a woman with a big heart who spent hours helping other people.

Ann Hallimond cheerfully tackled many unpaid tasks in Cockfield, near Barnard Castle, and refused to give up even when she was suffering poor health in the weeks before her death at the age of 62.

Mrs Hallimond was a founder of Teesdale's first lunch club in Cockfield, and spent hours cooking, baking, serving meals for the elderly members, and washing up.

She helped to organise old people's parties and Cockfield's annual carnival, for which she made fancy dress costumes, arranged floats and ran stalls and sideshows.

Her friend, Pat Watters, said: "She would help anybody and everybody.

"You never heard her moan. She was always full of life and fun, even when she was ill.

"She helpd with the carnival. She helped us win many prizes, but she didn't do it for that. She did it because she wanted to support the event."

Mrs Hallimond also taught children at a Sunday school and helped out at many church events.

Her husband, John, said: "Even when she was dying in a nursing home she gave me instructions about helping. She insisted we should give a donation to start a Christmas fund for the other patients."

Mrs Hallimond also leaves two sons, Jonathan and Michael. Her funeral is tomorrow, at Cockfield Methodist Church, at 1.45pm.