A TOWN has been left in mourning after a mum with a 16 month-old daughter died suddenly from a rare flesh-eating disease at the age of 32- just days after she started feeling unwell.

Sarah Tinay from Princes Risborough died in hospital on November 14 from necrotising fasciitis.

She felt a pain in her arm and four days later was rushed to Stoke Mandeville Hospital where she died during surgery.

Her funeral was held on Tuesday at St Mary's Church where there was standing room only as mourners gathered for Sarah, who had a daughter called Lauren with her husband Paul, 39.

They moved back to Princes Risborough, where Sarah's family live, in May 2012- just before Lauren was born.

Paul said: "Sarah was so personable. She had time for everyone. She didn't dislike anyone.

"She was always laughing and always smiling, I know it sounds a cliché, but I was going through our photo albums and she was always smiling.

"She was well out of my league-let's face it. I don't think anyone would disagree with that.

"She was lovely- such an attractive girl.

"Her smile just cheered people up."

Her parents Ken and Cheryl Clark live in the town as does her sister and brother-in-law, Michelle and Nick Slevin and their two children, Katie, six and Oliver, two.

Paul said Sarah loved being back in Risborough, where she went to both primary and secondary school, and was enjoying being a mum.

She saw Lauren start to walk just before she died. Paul said the pain in Sarah's arm started on the Sunday before, just after they did a walk on The Phoenix Trail.

There were no marks on her arm and doctors diagnosed a 'frozen shoulder'. But by Thursday the pain was so bad she was rushed to A&E.

Doctors then discovered she had the rare flesh eating disease, which is caused by a number of bacteria. A cut from when she was younger may have been a source but it is difficult to know.

The family were told there was nothing they could have done. She died during the surgery to remove the affected area.

Sarah did not know how bad it was and thought she was going for an exploratory operation.

Ken said: "I said to her they will find out what infection it is and once they know what it is they can treat you and you will soon be back with your family.

"I gave her a kiss and she smiled and I said, 'Dad always knows best.' That was the last thing I said to her."

Her family said Lauren is the image of Sarah, who worked part time at The South East Electricity Alliance in Stokenchurch as a training advisor.

Paul said: "She loved it. At first she didn't want to go back and leave Lauren.

"But a few days back out and she was loving it again.

"She was really loving life. It was probably the best she had ever been."

When she left school after doing A-Levels Sarah started working at Beatties in Aylesbury, then moved to an office job in Marlow before working at Hyundai in High Wycombe and then moving onto her latest job.

Paul and Sarah met through friends in 2000.

Paul, who works for Sybase in Maidenhead, proposed in 2007 and they got married in 2009.

When Sarah became pregnant they moved back to Risborough from Downley.

Cheryl said: "Words cannot express the help we have had from everybody.

"There is no way we can thank everyone for what they have done.

"We wouldn't have been able to get through this- everyone has just been marvellous.

"Cooked meals have been sent up. We have had flowers. We have had a lot of support from St Mary's Church.

"It has affected the whole town."

Paul said: "She was so popular. I was just so lucky to be the lucky one."

Cheryl added: "Make the most of every day because you don't what's around the corner."

Donations made at her funeral went to Stokenchurch Dog Rescue, as Sarah was a big animal lover, and Helen and Douglas House.

There is a UK charity, which raises awareness of necrotising fasciitis. Go to www.nfsuk.org.uk