DIVERS have paid tribute to a Bolton woman who died while exploring a deep sea wreck off a Scottish island.

Hilary Lyon, aged 39, was pulled unconscious from the water off Mull Head, Orkney, on Thursday.

Miss Lyon, from Egerton, was on a diving trip with members of Bolton Sub Aqua Club. Divers from the club tried to resuscitate her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Martin Cooper, diving officer for the club, said: "Hilary was known and loved by everyone in the club and had been a member for 15 years.

"She was qualified and very experienced as both a diver and an instructor, which makes these events all the more unbelievable. It is simply devastating.

"Obviously we are all shocked. The club has been going for 40 years and we have never known anything like this to happen before. It has shaken us all rigid.

"She was very well known in the local diving community, but our loss is nothing compared to that of her family.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time."

A five-strong group from the club had been diving at the wreck along with members of other diving associations as part of an organised trip.

They had all been in the water at the time of the accident, as it is a closely observed safety rule that a person should never dive alone.

The Bolton club members on the trip were still in Scotland on Friday helping police to figure out what happened to Miss Lyon.

They are set to cut their visit short to return to Bolton as soon as possible. Senior members spent Thursday night informing all the club's members of Miss Lyons' death.

Miss Lyon, who has a 14-year-old son, began diving with the club in 1989, and had been an instructor for several years. Her son is believed to be staying with relatives in Bolton.