A brave mum has paid tribute to her only child, after her life was cut short following a two-and-a-half-year battle with bone cancer.

Inspirational Tanyel Uzun, 20, always believed she would beat the disease - but died in the Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, on January 9 after suffering a seizure on New Year's Eve.

She was unable to return home to Blackfen with her mum Gulay and dad Ceyhun, known as Jay, in 2016.

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Tanyel with dad Jay, fiancé Ozzy Mustafa, and mum Gulay

Mrs Uzun, 48, of Blackfen Road told News Shopper: "I think we are still numb. We haven't had time to grieve.

"I feel like it's someone else's story. I am gobsmacked, I don't think we have come to terms with it.

"How do you get over losing a child? An only child?

"Tanyel was so loved. She was constantly inundated. She was so young."

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Tanyel was buried at Eltham Cemetery yesterday (January 18), followed by a celebration of her life at The Met's sports ground in Hayes, Bromley.

Mrs Uzun added: "Tanyel wouldn't want anyone to be upset, so we thought we would celebrate her life rather than her death.

"She was positive to the end. I am sure she knew something wasn't right, but she always wanted to fight.

"She loved life and she held onto that.

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Tanyel with her mum

"Tanyel's saying was 'everything happens for a reason', and I am sure she's looking down on us saying the same thing.

"We have 20 red roses, a rose per year of her life."

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Tanyel was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma two years ago - just six days after her 18th birthday.

She underwent chemotherapy and was given the all-clear in June 2014 but was re-diagnosed in November the same year, after suffering pain in her skull.

To leave a tribute to Tanyel, email josie.griffiths@london.newsquest.co.uk