A Telford woman who helped to build the famous Hollywood-style sign in Dawley has died aged 34.

Ellen Davis and five friends caused a stir last June when they put up the sign under the cover of darkness, leaving drivers and residents bemused for days.

At the time of putting up the sign, Miss Davis said it was all just a bit of fun but soon it proved so popular that more than 2,000 people joined a Facebook campaign in a bid to keep it.

Today Miss Davis’s family said she died on Tuesday from heart failure.

Miss Davis, who lived in Malinslee, in Telford, was said to have been in perfect health until collapsing at her job at Cory Environmental on Stafford Park in Telford.

Today her fiancée Chris Hoofe, 40, paid tribute to her and said she had been planning to run in next year’s local elections for Dawley.

“Everybody that knew her loved her. She was just so kind and giving,” said Mr Hoofe.

“She was so young and this was so sudden. It has taken everybody by surprise.

“She touched the lives of everyone she met and she was very memorable, she was such a special person.

“She was hoping to stand for Dawley Parish Council next year and she would have been really good at it.

“Ellen wanted to do the best for Dawley. She was 34, but a very young 34 and in a position where she was old enough to be respected, but young enough to understand the younger generation.

“She just wanted the best for Dawley and that’s why she did the sign.”

Mr Hoofe added as well as helping others, Miss Davis was a keen supporter of green policies.

“She loved her job at Cory Environmental because she was pretty keen on the environment and she wanted to do some good,” he said.

“I would like to thank everybody for what they have done and the kind words and messages they have left.

“There has been a lot of support from people leaving messages on Facebook and Ellen was a big fan on there, she had more than 2,000 sign up to the Dawley sign page.”

Mr Hoofe added a date had yet to be set for Miss Davis’s funeral.

By Jason Lavan