SHE was the popular lollipop lady whose smile was known to everyone at a Southampton school.

Tributes have been paid to mum-of-six Linda Pellington, who died aged 50 after a battle with cancer.

She had been ever-present at St Mary’s Primary School over the past 11 years, serving as a teaching assistant and dinner lady as well as a lollipop lady.

Dozens of friends, fellow staff members and school pupils turned out for her funeral at St Mary’s Church, with some of the pupils even making a lollipop out of flowers as a floral tribute.

Linda, from St Mary’s, was diagnosed with cancer in August, with doctors finding the disease in her lung, liver, kidney and pancreas.

Husband Gary Wright said that she “remained determined to fight the cancer” throughout her last months.

The grandmother-of-four was rushed to Southampton General Hospital on November 9 but died in the early hours of the next day.

Doctors listed her death as bronchial pneumonia which had been brought on by her cancer.

Gary, 46, said: “She was a diamond – she loved her children, she loved her grandchildren and she loved life.

“She also loved the children at the school. She always had a smile on her face, even down to her last day.”

School head teacher Llyn Codling said: “She was very well-known in the school community, and was a huge part of St Mary’s.

“More than 50 members of staff went to her funeral and that showed how well loved she was.

“She was a very cheerful lady with a beautiful smile, she lit up the room when she walked into it.

“The children absolutely adored her, they have made a memorial book for her and are going to organise another tribute.

“They also made a lollipop out of flowers for her as a tribute at the funeral.”