London, Jul 5 (IANS): Award winning actress-comedienne Caroline Aherne, who breathed her last at the age of 52 on last week, died alone at her home in Timperley, Cheshire as her family did not realise how badly her condition had deteriorated.

Aherne, who died on July 2, told her loved ones in May that she was dying of lung cancer. Her condition deteriorated quickly later.

"It was too quick, we didn’t expect her to go. She wasn’t in a hospice. She was just at home. She left on her own,” a relative told mirror.co.uk.

Her brother Patrick made a moving tribute to his sister as shocked friends and family came to terms with her sudden death.

In a statement, he said: “My heart is broken as I loved her so much. But she is now in a better place and most of all she has no pain. I have lost a beautiful sister and the world has lost an amazing talent.”

Aherne created some of British comedy's best-loved characters -- lazy daughter Denise in "The Royle Family" and acerbic chat show host Mrs Merton.

"The Mrs Merton Christmas Show" won the Best Talk Show Bafta in 1997, while "The Royle Family" collected Best Sitcom award in 2000 and 2007. Aherne was nominated for Baftas for her performance in both shows, as well as for her directing of "The Royle Family" in 2001.