The heartbroken family of a nurse who lost her short battle with brain cancer have paid tribute to a "selfless woman."

Sue Macleod spent the bulk of her life caring for others. Even when she was diagnosed with brain cancer four months ago she was back at work in Workington's Newlands Care Home within a week.

Sadly the 62-year-old lost her courageous fight with the disease on Tuesday morning and died peacefully at the West Cumberland Hospital with her devoted husband Andy by her side.

"Sue was not just my rock, she was my entire foundation," said Andy, of Woodhouse in Whitehaven. "Her death has broken me."

Sue held many jobs during her life, including a taxi driver, long-distance lorry driver and working in Asda supermarket, but she always returned to nursing.

"Nursing was always her love," said Andy, 52. "She took time out to raise her children and has had numerous jobs but she loved looking after people.

"She loved spending time with the patients and chatting to them. Whenever a patient died she would make sure that she laid a flower on them so when their relatives came in they could see they died with dignity.

"She was so caring and friendly – everybody says that. She always had a smile, even when she was miserable."

Sue, a mother-of-three and grandmother-of-five, was keen on fishing and gardening and went out of her way to help her family.

After she was diagnosed with brain cancer, her health deteriorated rapidly.

In July her son Stephen started fundraising to buy a wheelchair-accessible car for his mum.

Within days he raised enough money but unfortunately his mum was taken into hospital and they never got the chance to buy a car.

The money will instead be donated to Ellerbeck ward at the West Cumberland Hospital which is where she died.

Speaking about his mum, Stephen said: "She made me the person I am today and I'll never forget her for that.

"She always put others first, even when she knew about the cancer and was getting worse. She was still nursing and caring for others right up until the day she died."

Sue's funeral will be held at Distington Crematorium on Friday, September 1, at 2.45pm.

Family flowers only, with donations to Macmillan Cancer Support.