The family of a popular taxi-driver from Bradford on Avon have raised nearly £2,000 in her memory.

Mother-of-five Pat Smith, 69, of Westwood, spent the last 17 days of her six-month battle with pancreatic cancer at Dorothy House Hospice, last April.

A year on, her family held a fundraising event at the Avon Sports and Social Club in Trowbridge Road, Bradford, for the hospice.

Her daughter Jane Allberry, 47, of Trowbridge Road, said: “Everyone knew her. She was a bubbly, lovely person. I still feel that maybe she is not really gone.”

The fundraiser, attended by more than 150 people, was a bingo-themed party, to reflect Ms Smith’s love of the game. It also included a raffle, disco and charity auction, raising £1,781. Mrs Allberry said: “She was bingo-mad; she absolutely loved it. When she was well she would probably go five nights out of seven. We would like it to be an annual thing to raise money for Dorothy House.”

Ms Smith was born and brought up in Ashley Road and went to the former Trinity School in Newtown.

The grandmother-of-12, married Norman Smith in 1957 and they had five children, Ian, now 50, Paul, 49, Mrs Allberry, Andrew, 43 and Sam Baker, 38. Mr Smith was killed in a lorry crash in Frome in 1971.

Mrs Allberry said: “She remarried in 1989, and they lived in Swindon for a while. Then she wanted to come to her roots.”