A community has paid tribute to a "true Wanstead character" described as a “wonderful person, wonderful friend and always there to help people”.

Jill Stock, 72, a district nurse from Wanstead, died on May 25 after a fatal traffic collision in Somerset the previous day.

Mrs Stock was active in the community all of her life, playing prominent roles in neighbourhood watch and ward panels, and was passionate about keeping the community safe.

After her death, community website Wansteadium called her "a true Wanstead character" and friend Joyce Bosher said: “She was kind and helpful, the sort of person who would help anyone."

Read more: We need more doers like Jill in our community

Police also attended the funeral to show their gratitude and appreciation of Jill’s work with the neighbourhood watch and community.

Wanstead Park police tweeted: “Jill Stock was an amazing woman, pillar of the community and a great friend to the local police team. She will be sorely missed by all.”

Mrs Stock's work with the Police led to her winning an award for creating a safer Redbridge in the 2017 Best of Redbridge awards.

Jill also played organised street parties. They provided a celebration of community, were a way of bringing people together and were described as “joyous occasions”.

Mrs Stock was born in Sutton, Surrey in May 1947. She originally trained to be a nurse in Southend Hospital, with her first job in intensive care at Whipps Cross Hospital, before going on to become a district nurse. Jill spent 46 years in the career.

She met her husband, Mick, through mutual friends and the couple were married for a happy 49 years before she died. They moved to Wanstead in 1975. They had three daughters and five grandchildren.

Friend Joyce Bosher, 72, from Wanstead, described her as a caring person who always strived to help others and she had a “bubbly personality and a wonderful sense of humour.”

She said: “We were always telling silly jokes to giggle about over a coffee. She had a fantastic sense of humour and could make a laugh out of anything. She was the dearest friend anybody could have.”

Jill was married to loving husband Mick Stock, with whom she had three daughters and five grandchildren.

Her friend Deborah Selner said: “It’s hard to imagine Wanstead without Jill. In the weeks after she died I cannot tell you how many people stopped me to share their sadness, people I didn’t even know she knew! We have all lost an amazing friend.”

Mrs Stock's funeral took place on Monday, June 24, at the City of London Crematorium. It was attended by nearly 400 people. Deborah Selner said: “I have never been to a funeral with so many people. She was really loved.”

Jill’s family would like people to donate to two charities in remembrance of her. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which she supported, and Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, as they came to Jill’s aid after the traffic collision.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/in-memory-of-jillstock-rnli or www.justgiving.com/fundraising/in-memory-of-jill-stock-dsaa.