HEARTFELT family tributes have been paid to a 'brilliant' mum whose body was found near Seacombe in the River Mersey last week.

Helen O'Brien was found in the River Mersey near to Seacombe Ferry Terminal on Wednesday, October 2.

The 34-year-old was last seen on Lime Tree Avenue in Stockton Heath at around 10pm a week earlier.

Extensive searches had been carried out in a bid to trace Helen, also known as Helen Reilly.

Her death is not being treated as suspicious by police.

In a touching tribute her family described her as a brilliant mother and a shining light in all their lives.

The tribute says: “We will always remember our Helen as the beautiful, kind and generous person that she was; a brilliant mother to her two sons, and a shining light in all of our lives.

"Since Helen lost Kevin so suddenly last year, she has done her best to cope for the sake of her boys. She fought so hard to get the boys to where they are now, through everything that life threw their way.

"She was so brave to the end, and we are very proud of her.

"The pain of Helen's passing is hard to put into words. We are lost, we are down, and we are weakened, but we won't stay that way for long.

"We now have the most important job of all; to be pillars of strength, love & courage for the boys as they grow into strong men.

"Men that will always know how much they are truly loved, by their mum and dad, and the rest of their family.

"While we are heartbroken, we take some comfort in knowing that Helen is back in the arms of her soulmate, and that they are together for all eternity.

"Not a day will ever pass where we won't think of both of them. We will miss them always.”