A young mother who lost her life to a brain tumour was remembered at the opening of a new research centre.

Stacey Segal, of Borehamwood, died at the age of 31 - five years after being diagnosed with a tumour – and leaving a husband, Martin, and son Natan, who is now 13.

Patients, carers and scientists from across the country gathered to launch a new partnership between charity Brain Tumour Research and Plymouth University and celebrate the establishment of a new research centre of excellence last week.

Mrs Segal, who was a practising podiatrist working for the NHS and in her own private practice, was commemorated with a tile on the new centre’s 'wall of hope'. Each tile represents the £2,740 cost of a day’s research.

The dedication reads: “In loving memory of the best wife, mum, sister and daughter ever.”

Martin Segal, who also lost his brother Raymond to a tumour a year after his wife’s diagnosis, now campaigns hard to raise funds and awareness through his role as a trustee of Astro Brain Tumour Fund, a member charity of Brain Tumour Research.

He said: “Stacey was very brave and an inspiration to many people, including me. I am totally committed to raising funds to support patients and their families and to assist in the ongoing research to find a cure for these types of tumours.

“It is clear from my personal experience, and my involvement as a charity trustee, that there has not been enough research into these types of tumours.

“To begin with they are not seen as life-threatening but over time they can become aggressive and, by then, it is too late. It is vital that we find out more to help the large numbers of people affected.”

The new centre of excellence will be part of Plymouth University's schools of dentistry and medicine and will be led by Professor Oliver Hanemann.