THE family of a Barry woman who tragically died following a blaze in her ground floor flat, have paid tribute to a loving mum and nana.

72-year-old mum-of-four and nana-of-five, Sheila Stewart died outside her Avocet Court home on Wednesday, August 27 – despite valiant attempts to save her life - after emergency services were alerted at 1.55pm.

The former nurse turned kitchen worker, in Court Colman, Pen-y-fai, was originally from Bridgend, but moved to Barry in the 1980s living in High Street, Island Road and Winston Road before living on the Thompson Street estate.

Mum-of-three Lorna Swain, 45, who shared caring duties with her brother Darren, said Sheila loved her grandchildren.

She said: “She would do anything for her grandkids. She got on with everybody. She had a wicked sense of humour and she was very stubborn – she was a fighter, determined."

Sheila had health problems, but had beaten breast cancer around 12 years ago - tackling the illness with spirit and humour and dealing with the situation.

Lorna said: “She said: ‘That’s going to stop my career in strip pole dancing.’

“The doctor said: “Why are you not crying like them out there and she said: ‘If I do, will it go away?’ I think that‘s what got her through.”

Lorna added: “She was loved not just by her family, but by all. She was always there to help people but get on the wrong side of her and get a slap and ‘well get over yourself.’ She will be missed."

Sheila’s son Darren Stewart, 42, who lived with her at Avocet Court, said: “Mum was mum and probably just like every other mother on the planet. When she was annoyed with you, you knew it – she didn’t think twice about chasing you around the estate - but other times she was relaxed. She was loved and she knew it.”