A Bradford woman's dying wish is set to be carried out with a 'natural' green burial today.

Kathryn Lumb, 48, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in January 2000.

After surgery and radiotherapy, she was given the all-clear, but in December 2001 the cancer returned.

Faced with the new diagnosis, Kathryn married her partner Nigel in a ceremony on New Year's Eve.

She underwent further treatment but the couple realised it was to no avail. Kathryn died at her home in Bingley on Thursday, March 28.

"She had three lots of chemotherapy and decided it was making her too poorly and there was no point in carrying on," said Nigel. "We were very adamant that she would die at home."

"She was in her own front room, it was a lovely day and we had the windows open and the cats kept running in and out. It was her home, it wasn't in a room with strangers.

"Because she had a period of time, it really gave her the opportunity to think about her options and what she wanted was a green, environmentally friendly funeral."

To comply with Kathryn's funeral wish, Nigel arranged for the burial to take place at Gertrude's Pasture, a nature reserve in Nidderdale which accepts human burials. While he acknowledges that it is not for everyone, Nigel says the funeral service is a fitting way to celebrate her life.

"We had been to funerals and the vicar would turn up and say nice words, but we always said it's so hypocritical and impersonal. People had lost control of the event and just thought that was normal."

Nicky Jimenez, a close friend of Kathryn, said the funeral had helped her come to terms with Kathryn's death.

"I'm very sad but knowing that we are fulfilling her wish gives peace of mind."

The funeral will be a private affair, with a group of friends digging the grave and their children decorating the coffin with nature scenes.

Kathryn is due to be buried at the site today in a private ceremony before an open celebration of her life in the Garden Room of the Royal Horticultural Society gardens at Harlow Carr, Harrogate, at 2.30pm.