HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a dedicated and much-loved school teacher who died suddenly.

Jane Heley, 51, who was a teacher at the Westborough Primary School, in Westcliff, for 14 years passed away on March 9.

She was also a yoga teacher and started her own business teaching it.

Colleagues and friends have been keen to pay heartfelt tributes to Miss Heley, from Leigh.

Gerri Bennett, a friend and former teacher of Miss Heley, said her death was a huge loss.

Ms Bennett, also former deputy head of the school, said: “The sudden death of Jane has robbed the world of education of an inspiring and aspirational teacher.

“In her role as a Year Six teacher at the Westborough School and Chalkwell School, children and adults benefited from her incisive intelligence and insight.

“They also benefitted from her considerable creative skills and talents and most of all from her deep and gentle spirituality based on respect for our common humanity.

“This core value led Jane to train as a yoga teacher where her gift for therapeutic intervention found expression, leading to her ‘Breath By Breath’ initiative.

“The empowering capacity of friendship was the driving force of all aspects of Jane’s life.

“She will be greatly missed by her heartbroken friends and colleagues, by the children she taught and by those whose lives she touched professionally.

“Most of all she will be missed by her family who are coming to terms with their loss.”

A spokesman for the school said the Westborough family was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Jane’s sad passing.

The spokesman said: “Miss Heley was a kind and talented individual. She was an excellent teacher who worked with the whole child.

“She will be remembered for her calm manner, her positivity, her dedication to children and most of all her fabulous smile.

“Miss Heley was a valued colleague and friend to all the staff. She will be greatly missed.”