TRIBUTES have been paid to community champion Laura Nuttall OBE who has died at the age of 66.

Mrs Nuttall, who has been described as a “remarkable woman” received an OBE in 2004 for her services to the community, which included roles as the chairman of Bolton Lads and Girls Club and Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester.

Mrs Nuttall died suddenly on June 3 after suffering with a brain tumour. Her funeral was held at a packed Rivington Parish Church yesterday.

She was a director of the Hargreaves Hamilton Group, a Bolton-based textile engineering firm, ran by the Nuttall family.

Mrs Nuttall leaves her husband Charles, three children, William, Jennifer and Hannah, and grandchildren Caitlin and Pip.

Since 1983 she involved herself with community work including supporting Bolton Recreation Club and Newstalk — the reading service for the blind. She also served on various boards for the business community.

As chairman of Bolton Lads and Girls Club, Mrs Nuttall helped the charity to receive the largest lottery grant given to a stand-alone youth club through.

She also oversaw the club’s move to its expanded Spa Road base, from Bark Street, as well as increasing the club’s annual fundraising targets from £200,000 to £1.3 million.After retiring as chairman, she became a vice president of the club.

Current club chairman Karen Edwards said: “She was a much loved friend, supporter and incredibly significant chairman of the club. Laura will be very dearly missed.”

Mrs Nuttall, who lived at Barton Fold Farm in Lostock Lane, Westhoughton, became a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester in 2002 and later was appointed chairman of the Bolton District Committee.

Her role involved finding people in Bolton who could be considered to attend Royal garden parties, as well as recommending voluntary groups to receive the Queen’s award for voluntary services.

She would also bring greetings from the Queen and the Lord Lieutenant to people who had chosen to become citizens of the UK.

Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Warren J Smith said: "Laura was a remarkable woman who had the capacity to be a wonderful mother, an accomplished business woman and still find considerable time to devote to the voluntary sector. She will be greatly missed.”