FRIENDS and colleagues today paid emotional tributes to a young mum who died suddenly following a suspected heart attack.

Hina Shah, 33, was found collapsed at home in Nelson on Tuesday and died despite attempts by paramedics to revive her.

The coroner has been informed of the death and a post-mortem examination was due to be carried out today.

The former Burnley Council worker was married to Azhar and had two young children, Haroon, 10 and Harisah, five.

Burnley Council's Lea Fothergill paid tribute to her former colleague. She said: "Hina was simply a wonderful caring and sensitive young woman. At work she was very competent and professional and could have pursued her career further, but she made a very difficult decision to balance her family life with her working life and chose to take a career break.

"Hina's personality shone through. She loved life and lived it to the full. She was an exceptional friend and colleague, who was renowned for her sense of humour, her wonderful cooking and her generosity."

Coun leader Stuart Caddy led a minute's silence in honour of Hina at this week's executive meeting. He said: "Hina worked for the council for more than 10 years and she will be greatly missed by everyone within the town hall. She will be remembered as a joyous person and someone who always had a smile on her face."

Hina joined Burnley Council in 1992 when she started her working life in the Translation Unit as a clerical assistant. She married her husband in September of the same year and the couple lived in Bacup for the first years of their marriage. The two children soon followed and the family moved back to their roots in Smith Street in Nelson to be nearer her extended family. She moved into what she described to friends as her "dream home" in Town House Road, Nelson in late 2003.

Hina also worked in the council's Housing Needs and Strategy Unit as a Team Leader. She progressed into the Regeneration and Development Unit, holding several positions before becoming a programme officer in the European Team. She left the council in March to spend more time with her family.