TRIBUTES have been paid to a 27-year-old journalist who died suddenly on a trip to visit her family.

Tracy Edwards grew up in Stoke-on-Trent and had moved to London for work but died at her mum's house in Shelton when she to visit her family at Christmas.

Her death has been put down to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), which kills about 500 a year in the UK.

Friends and family said goodbye during her funeral on Wednesday.

Tracy's mum has spoken of the shock of losing her seemingly healthy daughter.

Linda Edwards, of Carlton Road, said: "Tracy had a bit of a cough while she was staying with us and hadn't had much sleep but other than that she was fine.

"Her death was so sudden and she was so young.

"It's such a waste because she was so talented and was just getting on her feet."

Tracy went to school in Shelton before going on to Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College, in Fenton.

She studied English at Manchester Metropolitan University and it was during her time there that she was diagnosed with epilepsy.

However, she managed it well.

She went on to complete a Masters degree in journalism at Preston University before moving to London to work on a engineering trade magazine.

She was made redundant when the publication closed and had been working freelance ever since.

Tracy travelled to Shelton from her home in South Islington on Christmas Eve.

She was due to return on December 29 but died when she had a seizure in the early hours of the previous day.

SUDEP is believed to affect the part of the brain which controls breathing.

Linda described Tracy was an outgoing and friendly person who lived life to the full.

She said: "Tracy was a very bright and artistic girl.

"She had always liked writing and hoped to work at a music or fashion magazine."

Linda added: "Her epilepsy came from nowhere, but she coped with it well.

"She didn't want to come home when she was diagnosed, she wanted to get on with life.

"She lived in a house with six other professionals, I would tell her she still lived like a student but she liked that.

"Her boyfriend Russell was going to move in with her."

Tracy enjoyed music festivals and travelling.

She still had a number of friends in Stoke-on-Trent and would make regular trips home to see her family, which includes two brothers and three sisters.

Her aunt Pauline Foulkes, of Ashbourne Grove, Hanley, said: "Tracy loved life and had everything she wanted."