TRIBUTES have been paid to the long-serving secretary of Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea Carnival who “was taken from us too soon”.

Jan Paul, 72, who had been the carnival secretary for 14 years, was found dead in her home by the carnival’s chairman Phil New and Bradley Loveridge, who runs the carnival's social media accounts, on Monday, February 7.

Mr New, who has covered the role for around 40 years, was at her address before a meeting as he could not get hold of her during the day.

He said: “We went there to go to a meeting as we couldn’t get hold of her during the day.

“We looked through the window into her lounge and we saw what seemed to be a body on the floor and we called 999.

“Her neighbour kept a spare key, we went in and we found Jan on the floor. It was a shock when we saw her.

“She was a nice lady. She came here from London. She was great, she was our secretary. Being a small community like we are, there’s a lot more than just being a secretary.

“She will be missed by us all.”

The Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea Carnival group posted a message on Facebook to pay tribute to their secretary.

The message read: “It is a great sadness to announce the death of our carnival secretary - Jan Paul who was taken from us too soon.

“Jan you will be missed so much by so many of us. Jan played an important part as a long-serving member of both Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea Carnival and also Hillview Carnival Club.

“She was our secretary, had organised the carnival presentation, been a judge for the carts, organised the trophies, and much more.

“You will always be remembered.”