A rare form of bone cancer has taken the life of a young woman from River who wanted to become a dance teacher.

Zoë Martyn, who was 23, lived in Valley Road. She died suddenly on September 12 from chordoma cancer, just when it was thought she was making good progress.

The rare cancer affects the bones of the base of the skull and spine – there is only one case per million a year.

Zoe and her husband Andrew had been together since they were 14.

He has described his childhood sweetheart as amazing and told of their plans to have a large family, like the one she came from.

He said: “She was recovering over the last couple of weeks.

“It was really strange, she got through everything. She was starting to come round again and carry on with life.

“It was so sudden but she kept giving until she couldn’t give any more.”

'It was so sudden but she kept giving until she couldn’t give any more.' - Husband, Andrew Martyn

Zoë saw her doctor in 2012 because she was becoming short of breath and snored excessively.

By the following September, Zoë and Andrew were told that she had a large tumour between her brain and the top of her spine. The couple spent months in London hospitals, where Zoë underwent radiotherapy.

Surgeons operated many times to try and remove the tumour, taking extra care not to damage the spine, which could have left her paralysed.

Andrew said Zoe always seized the moment and never let her illness stop her doing what she wanted.

He said: “It brought one very large family together. We knew there would be a time limit, but never as short as it turned out to be.

“Everyone has been quiet. They are just trying to cope with it – having to bury their daughter and granddaughter. They are devastated.”

The family have expressed their thanks to people that have supported them during this sad time.

The funeral takes place today (Thursday) at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church in River. People are asked to wear colourful clothes and donations are requested for the charity Chordoma UK.