AROUND 200 mourners packed out a Risca church yeeesterday to pay tribute to a 26-year-old mum who died following an 11-month battle with cervical cancer.

Mother-of-one, Sarah Wilford, of Pontymister, was diagnosed in May last year after an MRI scan at Newport's Royal Gwent Hospital confirmed a tumour was pressing on the tubes to her kidneys causing them to fail.

But after three months of 28 gruelling radiotherapy and chemotherapy sessions and despite showing signs of improvement, a later scan revealed the tumour was attached to the stomach wall and was inoperable.

Mrs Wilford died last Monday morning.

Leading the service at Moriah Baptist Church, Minister John Hayward talked about Mrs Wilford's delight at becoming a wife and a mum and her braveness throughout her illness.

He said: "Her character and love for those near to her and her fortitude will remain an inspiration to all of us."

In an emotional tribute to his wife, Elliott said she was "the perfect angel".

He told the congregation how the best days of his life were the birth of their son Jac, 19 months, and the day they found out Mrs Wilford was pregnant which was something of a miracle after the couple had been told it was highly unlikely she would conceive due to her suffering with polycystic ovaries.

He said: "Although she did not have much time with Jac she passed on everything that will be vital for his future."

He added a message to her: "I love you so very much and know you will never be far away from me."

He also thanked everyone for their support including St David's Foundation and doctors and nurses at Cardiff's Velindre Hospital where Mrs Wilford was cared for.

Mrs Wilford's brother Kelvin Wigg also paid tribute describing how he had looked up the meaning of the name Sarah, which is 'princess".

He said: "This encapsulates everything about my sister. She was so rich in all the great qualities in life."