A former nurse-of-the-year with a "heart of gold" has died from cancer at the age of 41.

Bev Reilly, described by her heartbroken husband, Eddie, as "a wonderful wife and mother", finally succumbed to the disease after being diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago.

Mrs Reilly, of Green Lane, Selby, leaves a daughter, Courtney, 11, and son, Brodgan, nine, both pupils at St Mary's RC Primary School.

Mr Reilly, a process worker at Saint-Gobain's new glass factory at Eggborough, said: "Bev was a real fighter, and if anyone could have beaten it she would.

"She had a heart of gold, and I don't think anyone could say a bad word about her.

"I received over 200 condolence cards, and so many people turned up at York crematorium for the funeral service that some had to stand outside. That's how special and popular she was."

Mourners also gave £900 to St Leonard's Hospice where she died on Sunday.

Mrs Reilly, who was presented with her nurse-of-the-year award by Doncaster Royal Infirmary, had a cancerous lump removed from her breast seven years ago.

For the next five years, says Mr Reilly, she was "brilliant" and just got on with her life, enjoying caravan holidays abroad and at home, as well as running a nursing agency with her sister, Karen.

Then in 1999 fate struck a second cruel blow when she complained that a gold chain would not sit properly on her neck.

It turned out to be another cancerous lump, which was removed, followed by more intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy at Cookridge Hospital, Leeds.

Then last March she complained of severe pain in her ribs and a scan revealed six more tumours from which she never recovered.

Mr Reilly said hospital and hospice staff were tremendous and could not have done any more.

A member of the St John's Ambulance Brigade in Selby, Mrs Reilly was also a qualified midwife and occupational health worker.

Mr Reilly said: "I have known Bev since I was ten. We were very close and I have lost a soul-mate as well as a wife.

"I'll never forget her."

Mrs Reilly also leaves a brother, Richard, two sisters, Karen and Tracey, and her mother, Rosemary Cust. Her father, Terry, died of cancer four years ago.

Updated: 15:09 Thursday, March 22, 2001