FRIENDS and family have paid tribute to a brave mum-of-two whose children were the most important part of her life.

Nicola Norris, 40, of Paxcroft Way, Trowbridge, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare form of cancer, in November 2004 and lost her battle with the disease earlier this month.

She leaves her husband Andrew and her two children Rebecca and Lee.

She lived for her family and throughout her illness stayed positive for her children.

A tribute to her sent to the Wiltshire Times said: "During her long illness she remained cheerful and never lost her infectious smile or happy disposition.

"Nicola loved life and she seemed to cram into her life as much living as some people do in 70 or 80 years. Her philosophy on life was always do it today, you don't know what's happening tomorrow'."

She set her sights on celebrating Christmas at home and spent a magical day' with her family before she had to go back to hospital on Boxing Day.

She then aimed to celebrate her 40th birthday and was able to enjoy the big day with her family and the nurses on December 30.

Mrs Norris was born in Trowbridge and moved to Bradford on Avon with her family when she was five.

She was very involved with Brownies and Girl Guides as a child and attended St Laurence School. She worked for the MoD in Foxhill, in Bath and married Andrew in 1993.

When her children were born she took to the role of mum easily and stayed home to look after them.

She enjoyed running and swimming, and while at work would often spend her lunch break running in Combe Down.

She competed in the Bath Half Marathon and a marathon swim to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, in memory of her granddad.

She also loved to travel and enjoyed the sea, the countryside and the sun.

The tribute continued: "Friends were always important to her and she always had many of them. Nicola always had a happy smile, a very cheerful disposition and was a very bubbly girl, something she kept throughout her life."