The heartbroken family of a young woman who died after surgery to help her lose weight today told of their grief.

Hayley Caunter, 22, had an op to make her stomach smaller, but died weeks later from blood poisoning.

Her devastated aunt, Claire Cook, who helped fund the £7,000 private op, said: "It was money to give her a life."

Hayley, a special needs teacher, was desperate to lose weight after piling on pounds comfort eating following the death of her mum in 1998.

Her weight soared to 19-and-a-half stone - she was just 5ft tall - and she had been told by doctors to lose half that. In the year before her death she put on three stone.

Hayley went to live with her aunt in Oak Road, Crays Hill, and Mrs Cook said: "I couldn't have loved her any more if she had been my own daughter."

Hayley died after having a gastric band inserted around her stomach which could be tightened as she lost weight to make her tummy smaller.

Mrs Cook said: "We tried slimming clubs. In the last year she put on three stone. Then we saw this advert (for the gastric band op.) She said she wanted it."

The family believed having the op was the answer to Hayley's prayers. "It was keyhole surgery and completely reversible."

Published Tuesday August 24, 2004