THE death of a mum who is thought to have been killed by CJD has left her family devastated.

Brenda Taylor is Hyndburn's third resident to have been diagnosed with Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease.

Mrs Taylor, 67, died from the debilitating illness associated with mad cow disease last week after 12 months of heart-breaking deterioration.

CJD is often connected with victims eating contaminated beef but it is not yet known how she contracted the rare disease.

Her son Craig, 43, said: "She enjoyed life and lived it with a smile on her face. She was full of fun, loved dancing and used to make us all laugh. She was very youthful.

"We cared for her in our home because we didn't want her going into hospital. And although I have many happy memories of mum, I can't help remembering her as being very ill."

Mrs Taylor moved into Wellington Street, Accrington with Craig and his partner Sandra Ward, 37, after she couldn't manage at home in nearby Water Street.

Sandra, who quit her full-time job to care for Mrs Taylor, was overwhelmed by her death.

She said: "It was heart-breaking to see her go downhill. CJD sufferers are usually given six months to live, but she got passed that mark and seemed bright some days. So we were given false hope.

"At first the doctors said she was suffering from dementia but we could tell it was more serious. She would lose her balance and fall over cutting her face.

"We feel like we've been cheated out of another 20 years of her. We both miss her like mad. When Craig found her dead it was the worst day and we won't really know what happened until her inquest."

The inquest into her death opened this week but was adjourned until Wednesday 19 October.

Mrs Taylor was widely known in Accrington where she worked at Pat's Cafe in the Market Hall and at the Regency pub where she managed the kitchen.

She was a member of many clubs including the Brooks Club in Infant Street, Accrington and she loved singing and spending time with her 10 grandchildren.

She will be cremated at Accrington on Monday after a humanist service conducted by Eddie Joyce in the chapel.

Mrs Taylor also leaves sons Stephen, Gary and John; daughters-in-law Linda, Michelle and Jackie and sisters Iris and Hazel.