THE heartbroken family of a mum who died suddenly have paid tribute to her, calling her the "loudest, bubbliest and kindest person that had time for everybody".

Katie Heffernan from Thatto Heath had a full life.

The 36-year-old is the proud mum to four-year-old Nancy and made lots of friends having worked as a Toni and Guy hairdresser before moving into working as a children’s support worker and doing aesthetics on the side.

Her tragic – and sudden – death on Sunday, May 5 came as a huge shock to her grief-stricken family and after encouragement from friends they have set up a Just Giving page for Katie’s daughter to allow her to have the life "her mum would have wanted".

Her cousin Caitlin Lyon, 26, from Eccleston, said: “We have no idea what happened, no one does. We just know on May 5 she suddenly died and hadn’t been poorly or anything beforehand.

“It’s awful, Nancy is her entire life and we are all heartbroken.

“It’s easy for people to say ‘oh such a person always lit up the room’ when they pass away, but she actually really did.

“She was the loudest, bubbliest and kindest person, that had time for everybody and was just so full of life.

“She was crazy, even the other week she went on stage singing proud Mary at the top of her lungs on holiday, that’s how she was. She was so funny and lovely and I just can’t believe what has happened.

“We didn’t want to do anything but a friend of mine said that it would be for Nancy and allow Nancy to have the life that her mum would have wanted, so with that in mind I set up the page and it’s been incredible.

“I knew she got on with everyone but I didn’t realise how many people knew her and thought so highly of her.

"It will be nice for Nancy to grow up and read them back knowing how well loved her mum was.”

To donate go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/katieheffernanandnancyjudge