Tributes have been paid to a grandmother who had a “wonderful sense of humour”.

Shirley Butler, who lived in Borehamwood for many years, died after an accident while on holiday in Cornwall two weeks ago.

The 66-year-old, who was well known in the town, was married to Labour councillor Ernie Butler, who has represented Hertsmere’s Cowley Hill ward since 2007.

Her son Richard Butler, also a councillor, is hoping to become the next Labour MP for Hertsmere in next month’s elections.

He said: “My whole family are devastated. My mum was someone you could go to, like any mum, with a problem or concern and she’d talk you through different options.

“She wouldn’t make your mind up for you – she was a solid rock and no matter what you did, she’d stand by you no matter what.

“She always said how proud she was of her children too.”

Mrs Butler, who had four children and two grandchildren, worked as a teaching assistant in Meryfield School, Borehamwood, for more than 20 years.

She was also the leader of the Borehamwood Beavers Club, a member of the Elstree and Borehamwood Twin Town Asssociation and regularly attended council events with her husband.

The couple had recently moved to Milton Keynes to start their retirement, with her husband having planned to stand down from his role as councillor on May 7.

Richard Butler said: “The messages I’ve had from people is phenomenal. People who she taught years ago say they have fond memories of her teaching them to read and write.

“She was fun, she loved to laugh. She was always positive and she’d get on with life, no matter what it threw at her.”

Cllr Butler added: “I won’t be attending as many husting events as I’d have liked to in the run up to the election because my priority is supporting my family right now, but I’m still campaigning.

“She had the strength and determination to keep going so that’s the legacy we’ll live by for now.”