THE family of a "beautiful" mum-of-three who died last Saturday after battling cancer have paid tribute to her.

Karen Ainscough, 42, from Atherton, worked as a nurse at Seven Brooks Medical Centre on Church Street but had to give her job up when she needed extensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

She was diagnosed with bowel cancer two years ago.

Her cancer spread to her head before she lost sight in her left eye in October and then her right eye in April.

Karen, who was a single parent, leaves behind her three children, Lauryn, 19, Morgan, 16, and Bethan, three.

Lauryn said: "I never thought that I would have to say that my beautiful mum has passed away but unfortunately on Saturday night my mum grew her wings and joined her nanna Charlotte in the sky.

"I will never forget everything that she did for us. She would walk to the end of the earth and back to make sure that her children were happy, and we are, and are eternally grateful that she was our mum.

"Although she would have wanted us to keep going and live our lives like a party, there are many people that are are devastated by her loss and will miss her so much especially me, Morgan and Bethan."

An appeal has been set up to raise funds to pay for Karen's funeral with Lauryn requesting people to provide donations rather than sending family flowers.

Tributes to Karen have flooded in.

Her friend Keri McPike will be riding 63 miles from Manchester to Blackpool with her sister Michelle and friend Susan Philbin on Sunday, July 8, in order to raise funds for Karen's children.

Keri said: "Karen was a truly amazing woman.

"My heart goes out to her children, I can only imagine their pain."

Karen's friend Mandy Mills added: "Heaven has gained a beautiful angel.

"She was a true inspiration to anyone who knew her.

"My heart is broken and I feel completely lost without this amazing woman.

"She supported anyone she could with her words of wisdom and positivity about everything.

"I will miss you every day 'Kazza'.

"You were such a brave fighter right until the very end."

To donate to Keri's crowdfunding page visit bit.ly/2HRLxzZ.