Tributes for dedicated champion of the homeless who was also former Burnley councillor

Abby Thomas, whose mum Paula Riley was also a former Burnley councillor, said: "We honestly did not realise how many people's lives my mum had touched.

"The messages we have received have been so overwhelming and I would like to thank everyone who has got in touch to offer their sympathy."

Cliviger Parish councillor Paula, who lived in the village with Keith, her husband of 44 years, was one of the stalwart volunteers who helped to feed the homeless every Wednesday evening in the car park at the foot of Centenary Way, Burnley.

She even won the Mayor's Medal from Burnley Mayor Coun. Wajid Khan for making food and turning up to dish it out every week, without fail, whatever the weather.

Paula had represented the Lanehead ward in Burnley on the council and she was due to stand for election in May for the Burnley and Padiham Independent Party.

Paying tribute on the party's facebook page Paula was described as a supporter of the party from the beginning and 'a truly amazing lady who touched all our lives.'

The tribute went on to say: "Paula was a great friend to the homeless and provided meals for them every week.

"We are proud to have had Paula as a member of our party and we will all miss her and send our thoughts and prayers to her family at this difficult time.

"Paula will be greatly missed by one and all."

Born in Burnley Paula, who was 70, attended the former Todmorden Road Junior and Walshaw High schools before training to become a hairdresser. She ran her own salon in Branch Road in Burnley Wood for over 20 years. She also worked at the former Lucas Aerospace in Burnley.

Paula then opted for a complete career change and studied to become a chiropodist, opening her own practise in Curzon Street, Burnley, which she ran for around seven years. In later years she tended to her many elderly patients, carrying out home visits for them.

Family was everything to Paula and she doted on her granddaughters, Elise (18) and 14-year-old OJ.

Abby said: "Mum was always doing something for others but it is only now we realise how well known and regarded she was.

"She was a force to be reckoned with who had strong opinions but she was full of fun and always smiling."

Paula died after suffering a ‘catastrophic’ brain haemorrhage at her home. She had gone out to defrost her car but went back inside after she started feeling dizzy and numbness in her arm.

Rushed by ambulance to Blackburn Royal Hospital, brave Paula spent two weeks on the stroke ward.

Abby said: "The staff were absolutely fantastic with the care they gave to mum and also to us as a family and I would like to thank them for everything they did.

"They allowed us to visit and spend as much time as possible with my mum and when we knew she was going to die we raced my daughters over to the hospital and my mum waited until they arrived to take her last breath."

A date for Paula's funeral has yet to be arranged but her family are hoping the cortege will pass Centenary Way where she spent so many hours helping the homeless.