A West Cumbrian school is mourning the loss of its headteacher, who has died at the age of 59.

Julie Burn was headteacher of St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Frizington from 2012.

She was a driving force for English teaching in the school and introduced an innovative new learning method for maths.

And she led a move to revamp the community hall and bring it back into use for the village.

Mrs Burn had previously taught at St Patrick's Catholic Primary School in Cleator Moor.

She died on December 6 after a battle with cancer.

Her funeral will be held at St Joseph's Church, Frizington on Tuesday, December 18 at 11am, followed by cremation at Distington.

Born in Rochdale, Mrs Burn moved to West Cumbria after her marriage to Steve, who was working at Sellafield, in 1986.

She took a job at St Patrick's Infant School, which later merged with the junior school. She mostly taught year two and was special needs co-ordinator.

St Joseph's school, which she later moved to, will be closed on the day of Mrs Burn's funeral as a mark of respect to the much-loved head.

Claire Jackson, school administrator at St Joseph's, said: "She basically turned the school around. Our results improved under her, especially in English because that was her subject. She encouraged the love of reading and developed the library."

Mrs Burn also introduced Maths Mastery, an innovative way of teaching numeracy, to the school.

The school recently took over the community hall next to the church, revamped it and reopened it for community use. The project was completed in September and has become part of Mrs Burn's legacy.

Claire said: "She had a very strong sense of community. She was just amazing. She absolutely loved the children and they really loved her.

"The staff are devastated. She was a friend as well as a boss. She was really fair. Outside of school she always knew what everyone was doing and asked about family and friends.

"She was an absolute character and she'll be sadly missed."

Mrs Burn and her husband had two children, Jessica and Oliver. Mr Burn said: "She was a loving wife and mother."

She is also survived by her mother Rita and sister Jayne.

They have requested family flowers only at the funeral. Donations in Mrs Burn's memory can be made to Cancer Research UK, via F Irving & Son Funeral Directors in Frizington.