A ROSSENDALE mum has created an innovative online 'swap shop' as a lasting memorial to her father.

Mum-of-five Tania Jackson, 31, set up a Facebook group 'swap, shop or give away' after her dad Terry Howarth was diagnosed with lung cancer in September, 2009.

He died on June 4, aged 65.

Tania, from Summerseat, said: “My dad was so proud of me running the swop shop that after he died I knew I had to keep it going to honour his memory.

“He had not smoked for more than 25 years.

“So it was a shock when he was taken into hospital with pneumonia and then diagnosed with cancer.”

The full-time mum set up the group as a place where people can advertise for second hand goods for free and ask people for items they want.

If a group user finds an item they like or sells an item, they are asked to make a small donation to the Morecambe Bay Hospitals Charity.

Now, thanks to the success of the group, which has more than 5,000 members, Mr Haworth was able to present £552 to the oncology unit at the Royal Lancaster Hospital where he was treated before he died.

Tania has now raised more than £3,000 for the Morecambe Bay Hospitals Charity, which includes the Royal Lancaster.

Tania added: “After seeing how the hospital has helped my dad, not only by treatment but support too, I wanted to do something to help raise funds to help other people going through the misery of cancer.

Donations can made via www.justgiving.com/tania-jackson