A DISABLED York woman whose parents had to travel 50 miles a day to visit her in a care home has died, aged 21.

Jenni Knaggs, who was left disabled two years ago after an operation to remove a benign brain tumour, was staying at the neurological care centre at Holme Hall, at Holme-on-Spalding Moor.

Her parents, Glynis and Malcolm Knaggs, both 52, of Acomb, were trying to raise £41,000 to adapt their house in St Stephen's Road to Jenni's needs and bring her home. But Jenni died in York Hospital.

Today, Mrs Knaggs paid tribute to her daughter's bravery. "She was inspirational," said Mrs Knaggs. "She always had a beaming smile on her face and she was a lot braver than we gave her credit for, as she must have been suffering a lot of headaches that we didn't know about."

Jenni, a former pupil of Lowfield School, Acomb, had recovered her speech after the operation, but was still unable to walk. Previously, she had worked as a shop assistant.

Mrs Knaggs said: "It really was sudden. We had a lovely day and took her to a pub at Holme-on-Spalding Moor with our dog. It was a really nice day and Jenni was fine, really talkative. The next day she was taken to hospital because she'd been fitting. I don't think she really came round after that."

Mrs Knaggs said she wanted to thank everybody whot wrote to her following Jenni's story in the Evening Press last month.

Her funeral will be held at York Crematorium on Thursday at 11am.

Updated: 10:33 Tuesday, May 11, 2004