More than £20,000 has been raised in memory of a popular mum who died of a brain tumour.

Susan Hebson lived in Penrith and worked in Carlisle, at one stage running the city's Jaeger store.

She died in November 2015, aged 58, five months after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour.

Following her death, friends and family set up Susan's Fund for Brain Cancer Research to help prevent other deaths.

They have also been campaigning to raise awareness of brain tumour symptoms to help boost early diagnosis, and lobbying the Government to make brain tumour research a priority.

Less than six months after launching the fund, their total now stands at almost £21,000 - with more events planned.

Susan, of Croft Terrace, Penrith, was the wife of John - well known in Carlisle as a former director of car dealership Harper and Hebson.

The couple have two grown up children, Jodi and Robbie.

She had no obvious symptoms, though she had twice been to the doctor with what she described as a "strange tickling feeling" in her ear.

But it wasn't until she suffered a seizure that she was diagnosed with an aggressive tumour called a glioblastoma.

Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of UK children, and more people under the age of 40 die of a brain tumour than from any other cancer. Yet research is underfunded compared to other cancers.

Susan's family wanted to help change that. The money they have raised to date includes £8,400 from various events and individual donations. This includes £350 donated via the Rotary Wishing Well in The Lanes Shopping Centre.

A further £12,500 was raised at a 24-hour five-a-side football event organised by Atkinsons Building Contractors.

Friend Gwyn Jones said: "Susan's Fund was set up early in 2016 by Susan's daughter Jodi, together with a number of Susan's many friends.

"The initial £1,000 target was soon reached, and the sum recently sent to Brain Tumour Research reflects wide support from across the Penrith area community, all appalled at how devastating this disease is.

"Susan's Fund believes that while Parliament now has this condition on its agenda, the national share of research funding attributed to this cause is still woefully inadequate. It is very sad we have become aware of the urgent need for research funding through very sad circumstances."

There are a further two big fundraising events now being planned.

The first is a fashion show on Thursday, October 13 at Roundthorn Country House, Penrith, from 7pm.

Tickets, priced £15, include a glass of bubbly a

nd goody bag. They can be bought from TwentyOne8, NDY, Edwards MENSWEAR, Brunswick Antiques and Penrith Tourist Information Centre.

Gwyn added: "Once again, we are overwhelmed by the generosity of local businesses in staging this event. Our fundraising would not be possible without the magnificent support of those putting on the show and others who have providing some wonderful raffle prizes. We anticipate a lot of interest in this event."

The second is a charity auction, conducted by auctioneer Thom Sargeant of Sargeant Group, on Sunday, November 6 at the Wareho

use, Penrith. Doors open at 1.30pm and children are welcome.