AN ELDERLY woman from Cirencester who died with no living family received a "lovely" send-off on Monday - as old friends, neighbours, and former colleagues came together to pay their respects.

Mary Day, 84, died in a house fire just after Christmas last year. She is believed to have been killed from smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in her living room at her Purley Road home.

The former French teacher had no living family but people in the town paid tribute to her after her death, as she was a familiar face to many in Cirencester.

Her funeral was on Monday and saw nearly 40 people attend, including those from the school she taught at for more than 30 years, Haberdashers Aske's.

Miss Day was a regular customer at French restaurant Le Beaujolais in Cirencester. Visiting five days a week for a three-course lunch for four years, she became close to the owner Kiean Glynn.

Mr Glynn read out a tribute to Miss Day at the service in the Parish Church, talking about her love of Arsenal football team and Formula One.

"The service was very well-attended," said Mr Glynn. "More than I expected came. It was a nice little send-off."

There were concerns that the funeral would not go ahead for Miss Day as a will was not discovered. However, staff at Haberdashers Aske's stepped in to make plans and organised it through A. Slade and Son.

A collection was sent round on the day in memory of Miss Day, to raise money for the church, as she was a regular worshipper.