A GRIEVING daughter has paid a heart-warming tribute to her mother – a popular Kingswinford pub landlady and charity fundraiser who has lost her battle with breast cancer.

Paula Newton, aged 57, died on March 1, after a 14-year battle with the disease.

Hayley Churchill, Paula’s daughter, said she could not have wished for a better mother.

She said: “As a person, my mother was a really lovely woman, so friendly and kind.

“Nobody will ever replace her and nobody will ever love me like she did.

“But she wasn’t just my mother, she was also my best friend and I couldn’t have been more proud to be her daughter.”

Paula, nee Garbett, was born in Cradley Heath, but after meeting her husband Alan the pair moved to Bridgnorth.

Later the couple moved to Kingswinford where they took over The Bridge Inn, in Moss Grove, and later The Union, in Water Street.

Alan described his wife as an “honest and very genuine” woman and he said: “Paula was a very popular woman. She was honest and very genuine and was much loved by everyone she came into contact with.

“She was very caring, the most wonderful person, and I couldn’t have wished for a better wife and mother for our children.”

After being diagnosed with breast cancer Paula turned her attention to fundraising for many local charities.

She raised about £10,000 for various causes including The Georgina Unit at Russells Hall Hospital, Mary Stevens Hospice and Compton Hospice.

Paula’s funeral will take place on Thursday, March 19, at Gornal Wood Crematorium at 10.20am followed by a wake at The Kingfisher in Wall Heath.

More than 400 people are expected to attend Paula’s funeral, which will see a trail of horses taking her to the crematorium before Alan and friends of the couple act as pallbearers.