A teacher who spent more than 20 years at the same primary school has died, aged 81.

Former teacher at St Paul’s Constablelee Primary, in Rawtenstall, Sylvia Dalton, died in Fairfield General Hospital, Bury, after suffering from cancer of the bladder and a series of strokes.

The keen painter, of Hurst Lane, Rawtenstall, fulfilled her dream of becoming a teacher and going to college after leaving her job as the school receptionist.

Mrs Dalton devoted her entire teaching career to St Paul’s Constablelee.

Her only son, Ian Dalton, said: “My mum loved teaching and it was a dream of hers to work at St Paul’s Constablelee as it was where both she and I attended as children.

“She got a lot of satisfaction out of teaching the juniors and between the school and the Sunday School she worked there for more than 20 years.

“Even after she retired she kept in contact with the staff.”

Mrs Dalton married her childhood sweetheart, the late Gerrard, in 1955.

She leaves son Ian and his partner, Margaret, brother Cyril and his wife Mavis, sister Vera, sister-in-law Janet, nephews and nieces and many close friends.

Her funeral service will be at St Paul’s Constablelee on Wednesday at 11am followed by cremation at Burnley.

Family flowers only have been requested but anyone who wishes to make a donation in Mrs Dalton’s memory is asked to give to Diabetes UK.