A WALNEY woman who managed to meet pop idol George Michael twice has described how she is heartbroken after he died suddenly, aged 53.

The world was united in its shock after it was confirmed that the former Wham! singer, who became one of the biggest ever selling pop artists, was found dead at his home on Christmas Day.

Millions have spoken of their grief at the loss of one of the entertainment industry's biggest stars in what has been a year riddled with celebrity deaths, including Sir Terry Wogan, Prince and David Bowie.

Among those moved by the singer's death is Walney resident Helen McKenna, a massive George Michael fan who managed to meet her hero twice during his lifetime.

Mrs McKenna, a former Walney School pupil, lived in London for a spell during the 1980s, when she worked in the capital as a nanny.

The grandmother, a self-employed cleaner, said: "I moved to London at 18 to become a nanny and, as you do, I met up with other nannies and got talking to a girl.

"It came about that she too liked George Michael and so we decided to see if we could meet him.

"We found out where George lived and thought we'd be daring, and one thing led to another, and we managed to meet him."

Michael, who was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in north London, sold more than 100 million albums throughout a career spanning almost four decades.

He first found fame with school friend Andrew Ridgeley in duo Wham! - reaching number one in the UK singles chart on four occasions. One of the band's most enduring songs, Last Christmas , is number 16 in the UK singles chart at the moment.

The star had "passed away peacefully" at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, his publicist said in a statement. His manager, Michael Lippman, said the singer had died of heart failure.

"It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period," the statement said.

Mrs McKenna said: "Shocked to the core and heartbroken is an understatement. Never ever did I think we would lose George Michael this year.

"Heaven is going to be rocking with all who we have lost this year."