A MEMORIAL service is being held for a woman described as the 'heartbeat' of Cranford Community College, who died suddenly in her sleep aged just 40.

Tracy Murphy was 'ethos manager' at the school, where she had worked for the last eight years, supporting children and their families by organising everything from counselling services to after-school clubs.

Headteacher Kevin Prunty said he had received hundreds of tributes from pupils past and present saying what a difference the 'larger than life' character had made to their lives.

Ms Murphy, who lived on the Beavers estate, in Hounslow West, had been working on the day she died, October 20.

She went to bed early, feeling tired and with an aching back, and was found dead the next morning by her children, having suffered a brain haemorrhage in her sleep.

"She was the heartbeat of the school and was totally selfless in nature. She was one of those rare people who not only had a clear set of values but put them into practice," said Mr Prunty.

"I've always been proud to say no one's irreplaceable but Tracy leaves the largest hole in our community you could imagine.

"She cared so much for the children and was always accessible and approachable.

"She welcomed them every day and checked what kind of day they'd had. She would even talk to them on Facebook in the evenings."

Mr Prunty described Ms Murphy as a loving mother to her children, Stephen, 21, and Jess, 15. He said she was always very involved in the community and was a keen cyclist and reptile lover, having been in the process of setting up an after-school reptile club.

A memorial service will take place at the school, in Cranford High Street, next Friday (November 11) at 4.30pm.

Anyone is welcome to attend the event, with the gates opening at 3.30pm for people to pay their respects.