A SON has paid tribute to his fearless, driven and charismatic mother after she became something of a local internet sensation following her death.

Susan Virr, who moved from Worcestershire to France in 2008 to become a flying instructor, died at the age of 62 on October 16 after a battle with cancer.

Her obituary on the Worcester News’ website has since been viewed by more than 2,400 people making it the most read article during November.

Her family believe that some of the interest stems from Mrs Virr’s appearance on ITV1’s Little England which followed ex-pats across the English Channel.

The programme showcased her as the only English-speaking flight instructor in France through her flight school Nearly Heaven in Limoges.

In an active and varied life Mrs Virr also enjoyed success as a jockey across the Three Counties and ran a bed and breakfast in Longdon, near Upton.

Her son Craig Coldicott said: “Mum was a very simple person – whatever she wanted to achieve, she achieved.

“She was almost entirely fearless, extremely charismatic, driven and hard working.

“Mum’s popularity has surprised the whole family. It seems to be a mixture of the horse world and the flying world, but also surprisingly for me a huge number of people seem to have been inspired by mum through Little England.

“It is genuinely lovely to feel that she meant something to so many people, but clearly sad that she isn’t here to appreciate it herself.”

Her funeral was held in France on October 19 and about 50 people attended a memorial for her at the Feathers Hotel, Ledbury, on Sunday, November 20.

She is survived by three sons and a daughter.