Sylvia Chandler, a 'free spirit' who was a catwalk model, florist to the stars, entrepreneur and famous advocate of drinking your own urine for health reasons, has died of lung cancer, aged 64.

Ms Chandler was best known in Birmingham as the woman behind the city's first New Age retailer, Serenity, in Corporation Street, which grew out of her successful florist business Carnation Street.

She also created national headlines by encouraging friends and customers to follow her own example by drinking their own urine and remained convinced of its health benefits up until her death.

Serenity developed into the Zen store in Brindleyplace and Ms Chandler launched a branch in Moseley in 1998 focusing on holistic healing.

Thrice married, Chandler retired around six years ago and her daughters Kate and Megan took over the business, which moved its Brindleyplace outlet to Digbeth in 2010 to run alongside the Moseley shop.

Kate said her mother, born in Mold, North Wales in July 1950, had enjoyed an amazing life.

In a eulogy to be read at her funeral, Kate said: "At 19, she married Peter Tomlinson and moved to Birmingham to begin fulfilling her entrepreneurial ambitions.

"From food to floristry to furniture, once she set her mind to it she was guaranteed success.

"As with her varied tapestry of life, her ventures were colourful and often challenged the norm."

She described her mother as a lifelong practical joker, once turning a Devon hotel pool purple by pouring in the chemical potassium permanganate.

Her first business was with boyfriend Michael Bartley, running an auction house in Tredington, near Stratford.

She met her second husband Martin through the antiques world and Sylvia Anne Antiques grew into Sylvia Annes Carnation Street in Corporation Street.

She later met her boyfriend Jim and the family grew up in Sutton Coldfield and Edgbaston.

Kate added: "Her success was supported by clients such as Rolls-Royce, the Hyatt Hotel and even the Queen Mother on a visit to Birmingham.

"Even though mum worked hard, her infectious sense of fun was never suppressed and often spilled over to her hard-working team downstairs in the flower shop. Many a time they could be found dancing on the table after a long shift.

"For the last ten years of mum's life she dedicated herself completely to helping others heal themselves and make themselves happy again.

"Friends of friends who have met mum have been advised to drink their wee, chew oil, take responsibility for their health and in this she leaves the most amazing legacy."

Ms Chandler moved to Sicily in 2014. She was diagnosed with cancer in June and passed away last month. She leaves two daughters, Kate and Megan.

Her funeral will be held at 11am on January 15, at St Mary's Church, Moseley.