Sadness touched last week's Queen of the Solway dance festival in Maryport when it was announced that much loved teacher Margaret Wilson had died, aged 58.

Margaret Helen Wilson, nee Mulgrew, was diagnosed with breast cancer 13 years ago.

She was left with heart failure after a regime of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Exactly 12 months ago, during the 2015 dance festival, her family were called to her side because she had pneumonia and was not expected to live.

Mrs Wilson was the oldest daughter of Florence Mulgrew, a doyen of dance in West Cumbria.

Taught by her mother, she first appeared on stage when she was two, 56 years ago, and kept dancing until her heart stopped her.

She and younger sister Theresa took over the Mulgrew School and for around 30 years Margaret has taught dance in Workington while Theresa took Maryport classes.

"She loved dance," her mother said.

As well as learning the traditional dance school dances she took up ballroom dancing until she was 17.

In later years, she also taught line dancing until her health stopped her.

Her family said she loved watching dance and musicals.

"She was always organising a trip somewhere to see a musical," Theresa said.

She was involved in Maryport carnival.

Born and bred in Maryport, she attended Our Lady and St Patrick's and St Joseph's School.

She remained a devout Catholic through her life and was a carer for people wishing to make the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes.

She married husband Neil 30 years ago after he spotted her working at the button factory while he worked in nearby Spillers.

The couple have two children, Michael and Kayleigh and grandchildren Bella and Shae.

Shae is three months old and Mrs Wilson's family said she had been determined to hang on until after he was born.

Her memory will live on in the dance festival. Her family have donated the Mags Sparkle Memorial Trophy.

Even when she was too ill to be at the festival, which she helped organise, she would contact her students to tell them: "Good luck, Enjoy yourselves - and sparkle!"

A service for Mrs Wilson will be held in Our Lady and St Patrick's Catholic Church today, Friday June 10, at noon.