THE family of a young mum and police officer who died weeks after giving birth have paid tribute to her a year after her death.

Becci Dadswell died suddenly just four weeks after giving birth to her first child, daughter Bella, as a result of a rare cancer.

One year on from her sudden death, her family visited some of her favourite places in her hometown of Romsey as they paid tribute to the popular police officer.

Becci, who had moved to Widnes in Cheshire when she became an officer with Cheshire Police in 2007, was married to husband Simon and was step-mum to his daughters Lydia, 15, and Daisy, 14.

Their daughter Bella was born in December 2014, but four weeks later she started to suffer acute pains.

Despite the best efforts of medical staff at Warrington Hospital, she died there two-and-a-half hours later.

For six months the family did not know what killed her, but a coroner’s review has now revealed she died as a result of Choriocarcinoma, a form of cancer that had developed swiftly after the birth of Bella.

A year on from her death, her family visited some of her favourite places in Romsey, including the Abbey where a memorial service was held, and where the family lit candles.

Her dad, Alan Butler said: “She had everything she had ever dreamed of.

“She always had it in her head that she would get married to Simon, buy a house and then have a baby.

Daily Echo: PC Becci Dadswell (centre) with friends Louise and Charlotte 

“It was all going wonderfully until last January.

“We have a very strong network of family and friends surrounding us all and it is as if we have been invited to be a part of other families – they have supported us so well.

“We lost a daughter but we have gained a son in Simon. The tragedy has brought us all closer together.”

Alan said Bella has been a beacon of hope for the family in the dark months that followed Becci’s death, adding: “She is wonderful and beautiful little girl. She has a lovely temperament and lots of energy.

“She is ignorant to what has happened with Becci because she is so young but she is keeping Simon on his toes.

“She keeps him busy and he always says ‘she melts his heart’.”

After Becci’s death, friends Charlotte Swithinbank and Louise Maunders started a fundraising campaign to raise money for Bella’s education, which has so far raised more than £9,000.

Donate to the appeal at gogetfunding.com/becci-dadswell.