The partner of a man who died after being taken ill in police custody has been found dead at her home.

Kuldip Kaur Singh, 29, had been with Nadeem Khan, who died in August after being arrested in Brierfield, for eight years and was the mother of his two children Alisha and Jasmine.

Ms Singh, known to friends and family as Kuli, was found collapsed in her home in Livingstone Street, Brierfield.

She was taken to Burnley General Hospital, but doctors were unable to revive her.

The cause of her death is not yet known.

Her sisters Surena, Suvena and Manjit paid tribute to the mother-of-five, saying she was "the life and soul of the party" and a "fantastic mother" to Alisha and Jasmine, as well as her older children Kyle, 12, Ebony, 10, and Morgan, eight.

The family of Mr Khan, who was known as Dean, called Ms Singh's death a nightmare' and said it was a tragedy for the children, two of whom had lost both parents in the space of two months.

In a family statement, Ebony said her mummy always made them laugh, and would give them cuddles.

She said: "She was very pretty and the best mummy in the world."

Surena and Suvena said: "She was very lively and outgoing and always went that extra mile to make everyone happy. She would go out of her way for anybody.

"She was always making people laugh, and even after the death of her partner of eight years, she continued to care about everyone else."

They added: "She loved going out in Burnley with family and friends and could always be found on the dance floor or the karaoke, afterwards she always had to have a burger or a kebab. She was the life and soul of the party."

Jason Hogg, Nadeem Khan's half-brother, said the family was now pulling together to ensure the children would be cared for.

He said: "I feel very sorry for the children. All five of them have lost a their mother and Aisha and Jasmine have lost both their parents within two months of each other.

"It's just becoming more and more of a nightmare for all the family. Kuli was organising Dean's funeral, so two months after his death we still have no idea when we will be able to bury him. God knows when it's going to be now."

Ms Singh, who attended Barden Infant and Junior School and Walshaw HIgh School, died last Thursday.

An inquest into Ms Singh's death was opened and adjourned this morning.

Coroner's officer Bob Wilson said a post mortem examination had proved inconclusive, and experts were now completing toxicological reports.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is due to investigate the circumstances leading to Mr Khan's death.

Mr Khan, 28, of St Aidan's Avenue, Blackburn, grew up in Burnley and attended Towneley High School, but moved to Blackburn several years ago and became a property developer.

He was arrested on Burnley Road, Brierfield at approximately 8:50am on Saturday, June 30 and taken to Burnley Police Station.

Mr Khan was taken ill at the station and was transferred to Burnley General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10.33am.

Hundreds of people marched through Burnley in July to demand answers following the death.

By Camilla Sutcliffe