DAD-OF-FIVE Mark Turton didn't know where to turn when his wife, Terri, died suddenly after an asthma attack. Terri, 36, collapsed and died in front of her husband and children last October, just hours after they returned from Goose Fair while she had enjoyed a night at bingo.

"We came home, everything was right as rain. She woke me up in the night because she couldn't breathe," said 37-year-old Mark, a postman.

An ambulance rushed to their home in Top Valley but it was too late.

The family couldn't bear to be in the house, so they temporarily moved in with Terri's mum and dad, Diane and Richard.

On top of his own grief, devastated Mark had to comfort Shelby, nine, Billie-Joe, 11, Kayleigh, 13, Lee, 15 and Ian, 18.

"It was just so traumatic. I was wrapped up in my own feelings," said Mark.

Help came from Spiral, a children's bereavement service launched days after Terri's death.

Mark's mum, Iris, spotted a feature in the Evening Post about the launch and Mark called the helpline. Two days later, Spiral's co-ordinator, Angela Cheadle, met the family.

The three girls now visit Spiral in Nottingham for emotional support.

"Lee was closest to his mum, so he's finding it really hard. He had one session with Angela, but doesn't want to talk about it," said Mark.

Shelby, Billie-Joe and Kayleigh have been making memory books about their mum.

"There are photos of places we used to go, like Skegness and Matlock, and they have been writing stories about their mum and how she loved bingo. Her nickname was Gala Gala Bingo."

Mark said: "Shelby has not cried to this day and I was concerned about that, but everyone has said it's probably her way of dealing with it.

"There are other kids there who have been through the same and they are making friends. When I picked Shelby up the other day they all looked happy coming out."

Mark feels reassured by the youngsters' one-to-one chats with Angela. He said: "I think they're coping pretty good. They say things like they want their mum back, but they don't come out and say how they are feeling to me."

The family attended Spiral's open day at Nottingham Castle last October.

Mark said: "The children loved it. They won prizes in the raffle including tickets to Aladdin at the Playhouse. We had a fantastic time."

He was dreading Christmas but, thanks to presents donated to Spiral, the youngsters didn't go without, and Angela gave telephone support during the festive period.

Mark's mother and in-laws are doing a valiant job helping with childcare, but Spiral has been an emotional lifeline.

"I don't know where I would have turned without them," said Mark.

Mark wishes there was an equivalent service for himself and Ian: "There's Cruse and the Samaritans, but they're only on the phone."

Spiral anticipated 60 referrals in its first 12 months. Staff were taken aback when 52 came in within three months of the launch, plus 39 general inquiries.

Most referrals – 17 of the 52 – followed the death of a parent from cancer. The rest had lost a parent through other illnesses, suicide, road accidents, and murder. Spiral, part of Nottingham charity Family Care, is for children of all ages but 80% are seven to 16. Contact has been made, via phone or face to face, with all families waiting for support.

Angela Cheadle, who heads a team of two practitioners, said: "We have a four-month waiting list. We are doing 'first aid' visits when there is a sudden loss if someone is struggling. It's often too early to do direct work, but it gives them a face and a reassurance that it's okay to cry and grieve."

Spiral has been running an after-school therapeutic group for nine children, aged eight to ten, since Easter.

Angela said: "This helps out with the waiting list, but also helps children feel less isolated by meeting others who've lost a loved one. We will be looking at feelings, loss, positive endings and there will be a doctor's Question Time with a paediatrician from the QMC.

"If children have questions it's nice to give the opportunity to talk about them. We can ask on their behalf while they listen to the answers."

Spiral also offers advice to professionals such as teachers, school nurses and children's services staff.

Angela said: "We can empower them to help children as well. It frees us to work on the more complex cases."

Some children struggle to open up to the remaining parent because they don't want to upset them further – this is where Spiral can help.

Angela said: "One family struggled to talk at home. The children made a memory book to take home, and that opened up communication. Children want to protect the other parent. They say that. They don't want to talk because it makes mum or dad upset."

Certain families have complex situations, but sometimes a call to Spiral is all it takes to reassure a parent they are going about it the right way. Angela said: "Parents can do a fantastic job – they just need reassurance."

The charity is getting calls asking if it can support children with a terminally-ill parent. It cannot offer emotional support, but can give callers help over the phone, and point them in the direction of other help.