THE four young children of a loving Taunton mum who died suddenly have paid a moving tribute to her.

They were joined by their cousins as they tied emotional messages to balloons, which they released in their garden in Emma Graham's memory.

The family of Miss Graham, 40, of Buckland Road, Taunton, are struggling to come to terms with her unexpected death from a brain aneurism.

Her partner of 15 years, Wayne Guns, said: “We’re devastated, in total shock.

“There was no warning, no indication she was unwell.

“She was getting geared up for Christmas, which was her favourite time of the year.”

Miss Graham, who worked at the Boots pharmacy at the Crown Medical Centre, complained of feeling dizzy, with a headache and went to bed early last Thursday evening.

When Mr Guns followed her upstairs, she lost consciousness and he frantically tried to revive her following instructions from the 999 operator until an ambulance crew arrived.

She was rushed to Musgrove Park Hospital, but never regained consciousness despite being put on a life support machine.

“The hospital agreed to keep Emma on the machine until Sunday as the Friday was our eldest daughter Ellie’s 12th birthday and her niece Maisey’s fifth,” said Mr Guns.

“It also gave Emma’s family the chance to come down from Skegness to say their final goodbyes.

“A scan showed she’d had a massive bleed in her head, which led to a cardiac arrest.”

Emma leaves five children – Sian, 21, from a previous relationship, and her and Mr Guns’ children Ellie, who attends Taunton Academy, Charlotte, ten, and twins Jack and Chloe, eight, pupils at Lyngford Park Primary School.

“We’re a very close family – Emma lived for her family,” said Mr Guns.

“She loved the children so much and was so proud of them and she was more like a mother than an aunty to her nephew and niece.

Mr Guns’ sister Lesley said: “Emma’s going to be sorely missed by family and friends and anybody who knew her.”