Tributes paid to mother who died after gas explosion

Maria Woodhead died after the blast at her home in Pound Hill at about 12.30pm on Tuesday (December 31).

Friends and family have left messages in her memory on Facebook.

Her brother Raymond Woodhead said: “Goodbye sis I love u till we meet again xxxx.”

Maria’s friend Marcella Seeking said: “I am the saddest person ever at this moment....just lost one of the bestest friends ever, still cannot believe it!”

She added: “A part of me has died today.”

Maria’s son Joe plays in the band Dizzy Tales. The band posted: “It’s a very sad new year for us with the tragic loss of Maria Woodhead, a loving mother to Joe, a real caring and phenomenal person who reached out and touched everyone she met.

“You don’t get characters like Maria anymore, she is truly a one of a kind women that was full of rock n roll energy, it was like the punk era never kept up with her, such a fun and real person who could speak her mind.

“We are all her boys, she told us that all the time and we realise how special that makes us.

“Thank you for being there for all of us, you’ve taught us so much and we know you haven’t really gone cause you will live on in our thoughts, memories and music. Our number one fan, we’ll miss you dearly. Keep an eye out for us, we won’t let you down.”

Updates to follow.