A mother-of-three and fitness enthusiast collapsed and died at an aerobics class despite frantic efforts by other class members to save her.

Two off-duty nurses and other class members gave heart massage in a desperate battle to save 39-year-old vet Diana Stapleton while they waited for emergency services to arrive.

A local doctor, police and paramedics also fought to resuscitate her in the village hall at Embsay where the fitness class had been taking place.

Today her devastated husband, George, said: "She was my wife, the mother of my children and my best mate. The world has stopped for me. This will always hurt.

"She was Miss Ultra Busy. She would take the children to swimming, football and rugby, ran the house, was dedicated to her job, went to aerobics and was doing a French A level at night class."

A post mortem has been carried out on Mrs Stapleton, but the result of tests are being awaited before a cause of death can be determined.

The tragedy happened during the class's first aerobics session after the Christmas break.

Mrs Stapleton slumped to her knees and then on to the floor about 40 minutes into the hour-long evening class on Monday.

Class leader and fitness trainer Caroline Hewison, from Skipton, phoned the emergency services while members of the aerobics class fought to save her life.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed members of the class, a local doctor, police and paramedics all made attempts to resuscitate her but were unsuccessful.

Mrs Stapleton, who lived at High Skibeden Farm on the outskirts of Skipton had been attending the aerobics class for about five months.

Her husband George said she had a physical job, loved to be outdoors and liked to keep fit. She had played rugby for her university team and gone for England trials.

Mr Stapleton said: "She was a fit girl, it was literally a bolt out of the blue.

"She was full of life, what-ever you asked her to do she would try her best to help anybody."

The couple have three children - Thomas, nine, Anna, seven and two-year-old Rebecca.

In 1989 she joined the Dalehead Veterinary Group at Settle where she worked until her death. She developed a particular interest in farm animal work, especially cattle fertility and had recently become involved with specialised embryo transfer work in pedigree cattle.

She met her husband, a farmer client of the practice, while treating one of his lambs and they married 11 years ago.

Mrs Hewison, who has been running the aerobics classes for ten years, said she and class members were shocked and distressed by the tragedy.

"She was a very friendly person - a joy to have in the class. Our hearts go out to her family.

"Everyone in the class and the emergency services behaved admirably - they did their very best to help."

Mrs Hewison said next Monday's classes both the 7pm-8pm and 8pm-9pm would be cancelled as a mark of respect.

A funeral service will take place next week at the Priory Church, Bolton Abbey, and she will be buried at Embsay.