A YOUNG hairdresser has paid tribute to her inspirational mother and teacher who remained upbeat right up until her death from bowel cancer.

Paula McDonnell, an established figure on York's hairdressing scene, lost her fight to the disease on Tuesday after learning earlier this month that it could not be treated.

Her daughter and protg, Tara, said Paula had stayed positive throughout her battle, even cracking jokes to make her family laugh the day before she died.

Paula who set up Oz Hair in Pavement, York, in 1989, underwent a hysterectomy after being struck down by cancer last year.

"That cleared it, but they couldn't find the primary source," said 21-year-old Tara.

"It came back in the bowel a year later in February. It was really bad and we took her to St James's Hospital in Leeds. First of all, they tried doing an operation, but it had gone too far.

"She died in hospital, peacefully, in her sleep."

Originally from Belfast, Paula had three sisters and eight brothers.

Two sisters are flying in from Texas and Mexico for her funeral on Thursday, at 9.30am at Christ The King Roman Catholic Church, in Armley, Leeds.

Paula moved to England when she was 16 and trained as a hairdresser, working at various salons in Leeds before setting up Oz Hair in York.

Last year, the mother-and-daughter duo left their salon and hit the road.

Fed up with expensive rent and costly business rates, they invested in a motor home and kitted it out with everything needed to style hair on the move.

Tara praised her career-minded mother as an excellent teacher.

"I have been learning from her since I was a child. She was the best teacher. She also made a very good name for herself.

"I have had to break the news about her death to clients - they are like best friends because they have been coming to us for 16 years."

She said: "She was always funny, even up to the last minute she was laughing, and never got down.

"She stayed positive. She kept going for our sake. It was only two weeks before that we found out there was nothing they could do.

"On the last day she made us all laugh. She was amazing."

During her 25 years in the business, Paula was a British World Hairdressing Federation tutor and a demonstrator for various major companies at hair shows.

She also attended courses in London, Paris and New York to perfect the art of hair extensions, dressing long hair and cutting techniques.

Paula also leaves her husband, Gary.

Updated: 09:30 Saturday, April 23, 2005