A GRIEVING husband has paid tribute to a 29-year-old mother of eight from Hamworthy who died just six days after being diagnosed with cancer.

Natasha Duffin passed away in Southampton General Hospital with husband, Andrew, 38, by her side on January 19, following tests which found that she had leukaemia, after the discovery of a lump on her neck.

She leaves behind children, Brandon, 12, Bradley, 11, Shannon, nine, A.J, seven, Alfie, six, Megan, five, Jack, three, and Brooke, who turns two on February 14, 2014.

Andrew says that he fell in love with Natasha the moment that he met her, when he was 24 and she was 16, after he was introduced to her through friends.

He added: “I will never ever meet another woman like her.

“I just have to look at these babies every day and I will be reminded of Tash.

“They are all that is keeping me going at the moment.

“She was a full-time mum, who was totally dedicated to the children.

“They were her world.”

Natasha was described as having a wicked sense of humour and enjoyed crafting, decorating her nails and shoes with glitter and sparkly gemstones, as well as turning her hand to making wedding bouquets.

Andrew’s niece, also named Natasha, described her aunty as a quiet person at first, until people got to know her, and then she would ‘come out of her shell.’ She added: “Natasha was very caring, loving and willing to help others.

“The fact is, that everything she did was for her children and her husband.

“It’s just a horrible fact that every time I look at those children, it makes it even sadder, because they want their mummy but she can’t be there.”

Andrew also thanked Charlie Loveday, from Ives & Shand funeral directors for her ongoing support to his children and extended family, without which he says they would not have been able to cope.

For details of Natasha’s funeral, visit the website funeraldirector.co.uk/funeral/natasha-duffin