Tributes to mother killed in fire

It has been two years since Janet Chesworth was killed in a devastating fire while on the holiday of a lifetime in South Africa.

And today her family opened their hearts to pay tribute to the woman they described as "fun-loving and wonderful".

Anthony Cooper, the man accused of starting a fire which killed her, was acquitted by a court in South Africa last week of causing culpable homicide.

He was also cleared of violating the National Forestry Act.

Cooper, aged 38, from Swansea, had been accused of starting the devastating fire by negligently tossing a burning cigarette out of his car window in January.

The 65-year-old former Wolverhampton City Council worker had been hiking at South Africa's Table Mountain when the inferno took hold – a dream trip she had taken with 31-year-old daughter Linda to celebrate her retirement.

Speaking from the neat home he shared with Janet in Sedgley, 72-year-old husband Jim said: "She was very helpful and generous.

"She did a lot of charity work and when the children were at school she did work for Age Concern."

Jim married Janet 36 years ago at St Michael's and All Angels Church in Tettenhall. They also have son Andrew, aged 33.

"She was always helping friends and neighbours. She was everyone's best friend, a wonderful person," he added.

Adventurous fitness fan Janet was a keen badminton player and swimmer, also enjoying needlework, cooking and woodwork.

Andrew, aged 33, who lives in Birmingham, said: "She was wonderful. She was always up for having fun.

"When we went out for my father-in-law's birthday he went up in a hand glider and she said 'I want to do that' and got straight in.

"She would give anything a go."

Her family say they prefer not to dwell on last week's court verdict, and instead remember the good times they shared.