A mother has paid tribute to a ‘vibrant’ charity fundraiser who has died suddenly at her home.

Catherine Anne Howard, 40, of Haworth Street in Rishton, was a mature student at Accrington & Rossendale College where she had just completed an NVQ level 3 in drugs and alcohol misuse with a view to becoming a counsellor.

Mum Janet said: “Everyone talked to Catherine - she was like an agony aunt, she had so much empathy for others - she would have been a brilliant counsellor.

“She had lots of friends and her children were the most important thing in her life.”

The grandmother-of-two was also an animal lover who frequently gave stray cats a home and fostered many, her most cherished named Arthur after her grandfather.

Janet added: “She was a party animal and loved karaoke. She was also a very spiritual person and her favourite colours were purple and pink.”

Born in Germany to parents in the army, Catherine grew up in Padiham where she attended Padiham Green and then Habergham School, moving to Rishton three years ago.

She worked as a teaching assistant in Rochdale, then at Stockley’s Sweets in Blackburn, followed by a period as a full-time mum.

A fundraiser for the Meningitis Trust, and the British Kidney Patient Association, Catherine was planning to do voluntary work for a women’s refuge.

She leaves three children, two granddaughter and her brother Paul.

Her funeral will take place on Saturday, February 21 at Burnley Crematorium at 11.20am.

Family flowers only are requested and donations can be made at champfunerals.com/obituaries.

Lancashire Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Catherine’s death.