The devastated parents of a 27-year-old woman who died four days before Christmas told today of their heartache at opening the presents she left behind for them.

Tragic Samantha Henshall arranged from her hospital bed for her younger sister Elizabeth to buy the gifts, but never survived to see them opened.

Samantha, of Wrose, underwent surgery for a bowel disorder in Bradford Royal Infirmary earlier this month but lost her fight for life on December 21.

Her father, Michael, said: "It was heart-wrenching opening the presents. She had arranged for flowers and presents for everyone. Losing her at Christmas is bad, but the presents were heartbreaking.

"She was a loving daughter, loved cuddly toys and loved life."

Her mother Janet, added: "I could sit and talk to her so easily. She was a Daddy's girl too. She was so bubbly, she loved work and being at work, but because she was ill it wasn't always easy."

Samantha was diagnosed with bowel and colon problems when she was just 11 but led a normal life, attending Salt Grammar School and working at the Telegraph & Argus in the telesales department and also as a hairdresser, at a solicitor's and at a dress shop.

In February she was operated on after being repeatedly sick but was in and out of hospital throughout the year. She went in for surgery on December 13 after losing a lot of weight and seemed to rally.

Defying her pain and on a ventilator she wrote a note saying: "I love you mum and dad."

But although she seemed to be improving she went into a sudden decline. She died from organ failure and colon problems.

At her funeral tomorrow at Nab Wood Crematorium, her family have picked two favourite Shania Twain hits and she will be wearing her favourite pink.

Her partner of two years Chris Binns said: "When she was healthy there was no stopping her. In September she went to Blackpool and we were on the roller-coaster and she was fantastic. She used to talk about getting better - even just 60 per cent better.

"It is tragic to have lost her with everything ahead of her. It is such a shock now to think she is gone."

The family thanked the nurses on Ward 11 and in the intensive care unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary.