The heartbroken family of a woman who died last year after battling against a depressive illness will be holding a fundraising fete in her memory next month.

Kerry Ann Chapman, 27, who had a history of suffering from anxiety and had self-harmed in the past, hanged herself at her home in Webster Close, Stoke Holy Cross, on August 4.

Her sister Leanne Rumsby, 30, has helped organise a summer charity fete in aid of mental health charity MIND and the East Anglian Air Ambulance which will be held on June 12 – which would have been Miss Chapman's 28th birthday.

Her mother Brenda, 55, who lives with husband Paul in Caistor St Edmund, said: 'I think everyone benefited from knowing Kerry and we were all deeply saddened by what happened and just miss her so much.

'Just to have a child wrenched from you...she's just so sadly missed – she was a beautiful person.'

Mrs Rumbsy, a mother of one who is expecting her second child in August, said the event at Framingham Earl High School – where Miss Chapman was a pupil – would provide a fitting way to remember her sister together with family and friends.

She said: 'We've always wanted to do something to raise awareness and as she went to Framingham Earl High School we thought it would be quite nice to have it there and mark her birthday while trying to raise money and awareness for charity.

'All the family should be at the event and all her friends are coming as well – she had a big group of friends and was very, very well liked so we've had lots of support.'

Mrs Rumsby, who lives in Thorpe St Andrew, said the event would also help raise awareness about the issues surrounding mental health, not only for the sufferers but their families too.

She said; 'We hope to raise awareness of mental illness and the seriousness that these illnesses hold.

'We never really realised how severe it had got and how quickly you can deteriorate.

'She was very motivated, quite a high achiever and a very bubbly person when she was well.'

An inquest held into Miss Chapman's death earlier this month heard from Norfolk coroner William Armstrong about the need for lessons to be learned after she was discharged from hospital without her family being consulted first.

He said her family, including partner Peter Baker, should have been told of the decision to discharge her from Hellesdon Hospital.

The fete takes place on Sunday, June 12 between 10am and 3pm. Attractions will include a bouncy castle and slide, trampolines, stalls, fairground games and rides, penalty shoot out game, chainsaw sculpture, and vintage cars.

Would you like to pay tribute to a lost loved one? Call reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk