TRIBUTES have been paid to a Blackburn newsagent and wife of a local councillor, who passed away on Tuesday.

Rabia Khonat, 56, ran Johnston Street News for more than 25 years, and was married to Shear Brow councillor Solly Khonat for 35 years.

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The couple had five children - four daughters and a son.

Rabia had suffered with breast cancer for 12 years, and had spent her last five weeks in East Lancashire Hospice.

A funeral service at Blackburn's Pleasington Cemetery was attended by hundreds of people on Tuesday afternoon.

Her husband Solly said: "She was a well-known newsagent for many years.

"She was known as 'Rabia the newsagent' and she was proud of what she did.

"She had been in the country for many years, and raised money for charities locally and abroad.

"In July we were in the town centre collecting for the Hospice, we didn't realise that after three months she'd end up using the service.

"The people at the Hospice were wonderful, all the doctors and nurses, she said they were all angels.

"There were times when she didn't know where she was, and she thought that she was staying in a hotel - that's the nature of the care, it was second to none.

"We're proud to have a place like that in Blackburn.

"The care she got from everybody was really, really very touching, and the family are very grateful."

Hundreds of people from as far away as Leicester, London, and and Newcastle attended the funeral.

Family and friends have paid tribute to Mrs Khonat, following her death.

Her brother-in-law Hanif Khonat said: "She will be dearly missed by everybody.

"It will be difficult to adapt without her.

"She leaves a good legacy, she was really friendly and everybody really looked up to her.

"She was the key to our family."

Fellow Shear Brow councillor Hussain Akhtar said: "I was very sorry to hear the news, she was nice lady, a popular lady.

"She was a shop-owner for a long time, and worked very hard."

Bastwell councillor Parwaiz Akhtar attended the funeral.

He said: "I'm really sorry to hear the she passed away.

"My sympathies are with her family, especially the children."