A WOMAN from East Lancashire was one of the two people who died when an inflatable tourist attraction was lifted into the air by a gust of wind, it emerged today.

And the husband of tragic victim Claire Furmedge paid tribute to his "beautiful wife".

The mother-of-two, who was born and grew up in Bacup, was in the huge attraction, at Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street, County Durham on Sunday.

She had been inside the maze-like structure with two her daughters, Jessica, eight and Emily, six, when it broke free from moorings and was lifted into the air.

Claire, 38, a radiographer at a Tyneside Hospital, had originally taken the girls to a paddling pool in the park.

Her husband Gary, also 38, who works as a senior manager with a North East motor company, said Claire saw the inflatable and must have then decided to go inside.

Mrs Furmedge's children were taken to Durham's University Hospital and kept in hospital overnight for observation.

They were released on Monday after receiving treatment for minor cuts and bruises.

Gary said: "My family and I are deeply shocked and devastated by this tragedy that has taken my beautiful wife."

Bacup councillor Jimmy Eaton, who was the family's former postman, said: "I used to go around with John and Peter, Claire's brothers.

"I think Claire went to Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School so she will be well known in the valley.

"It's very, very sad. She was only a young woman with two young children, it must be devastating for the family.

"You never expect something like this to happen. I am sure the whole community will be thinking about the family right now."

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "Claire's mum and dad, Fred and Maureen, have gone up to County Durham to be with the rest of the family.

"It's just so tragic. We have heard one of the daughters was also badly injured in the incident and is quite poorly in hospital. We are all hoping she will be okay."

A neighbour of the Furmedges in Chester-le-Street said: "I only found out Claire had died last night and it is devastating.

"It is awful for her husband and little girls."

Another woman, a 68-year-old, from the North East, was killed in the accident.

Thirteen people were injured, including three-year-old Rosie Wright, who suffered multiple injuries and is said to be in a comfortable but stable condition.

Detectives and the Health and Safety Executive were today still trying to piece together how the huge inflatable sculpture came to fly off the ground after years on display across the country without any trouble.

Police were probing claims that guide ropes on the sculpture had been loosened and that the hot weather effectively turned it into a hot-air balloon.

Chief Insp Trevor Watson, leading the investigation, said: "We are investigating whether someone had tampered with the ropes.

"That it may have been tampered with or that the sun heating the air inside may have played a part will form part of the investigation."

It has also been revealed that the artist behind the piece, called Dreamspace, was trying to tie down the artwork as the tragedy unfolded.

Maurice Agis, 74, was pulled into the air when a gust of wind tore it from its moorings.

He and his team of helpers had used extra ropes on the 2,500sq m inflatable because of the heat.