A grandmother-of-two who raised about £20,000 in north Norfolk has been praised by a cancer charity for her work, ahead of her funeral.

Poppy Barton even made a last request to ask for donations to Macmillan Nurses at her funeral.

Her family said she had been raising money for the charity for decades.

Son Nick, from Acorn Road, North Walsham, said: 'It started after her mother died of cancer. She wanted to do something for the nurses. She fundraised for Macmillan for about 30 years, held coffee mornings and evening events at her home. She raised about £20,000 in Swanton Abbott. It was an amazing achievement for such a tiny village.'

Sema Hussein, fundraising manager, Macmillan Cancer Support in Norfolk, said: 'Poppy was a valued supporter of Macmillan over many years, particularly through her coffee mornings.

'We are enormously grateful for the time she dedicated in raising money for Macmillan to help us improve the lives of people living with cancer. Our thoughts and condolences go out to her family and friends at this very sad time.'

Mrs Barton told this newspaper at a fundraising event in 2012 that she did it because it was 'such a wonderful cause'.

'I know people who are visited by Macmillan Nurses and they tell me how good they have been for them,' she added.

She was married for nearly 70 years to John, who survives her, and they were just four months' short of celebrating their 90th birthdays together, when she died at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, aged 89, on September 10.

Her son added: 'She lived all her life in Swanton Abbott. She was a vibrant personality and everyone who knew her just loved her. She will be greatly missed.

'As a piano teacher, she was a confidant, counsellor and a friend to those she taught. She was teaching three weeks before she died. She also sang in the choir at Swanton Abbott church.'

Her daughter-in-law Jacqui Barton said: 'She was the best ever, the complete antithesis of the Les Dawson mother-in-law.'

The funeral service is at Cromer Crematorium, Holt Road, on Saturday, September 30 at 11am.