Mum (44) dies weeks after cancer diagnosis

Anita Walker, nee Walton, was a popular and well-known florist throughout Burnley and Pendle where she worked all her life.

Her devastated parents Colin and Jean Walton are now trying to come to terms with their daughter’s death at 44, so soon after falling ill.

Colin, who in the 1970s was one of only two flower wholesalers in Burnley and Pendle, introduced Anita to the business when she was just a little girl. He said: “Anita was always happy and always smiling. We are devastated. It was only a few weeks ago that she came to me saying she felt unwell. I took her to urgent care at Burnley General and she was transferred to the Royal Blackburn Hospital, but never came home. The specialists said that Anita had liver cancer and that it was too late to do anything. Her death hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Anita lived in Morse Street, Brunshaw, with children Kian (10) and Alyshia (9) as well as seven cats that she had taken in as strays. She also leaves her sister Tracy. Anita worked at various florists but became well-known running her own stall in Burnley Market Hall from 1988 to 1998. Colin added: “Anita would come out delivering flowers with me when she was very young.