A Jewish mother from Manchester ended her life at a Dignitas clinic in Switzerland after battling a debilitating illness for almost 20 years.

Rachelle Linz, 50, took a fatal dose of drugs at the assisted suicide clinic in Zurich after saying that the neurological condition had “destroyed everything I loved so much about my life”.

Mrs Linz – known as Shelley to those closest to her – was surrounded by her husband Jonathan and three children, 24-year-old Joshua, Hannah, 22 and Jason, 20 as she died.

In a statement, she wrote: “I was always a very active, mentally-positive person with a busy work, social and family life.

“But over the last 17 years, this illness has destroyed everything I loved so much about my life, to the point that I am now virtually a recluse, unable to face going out or even seeing friends much.

“The situation has become too physically and mentally challenging for me and this is why after very serious consideration I requested the assistance of Dignitas.

“It was a very difficult decision which has been ongoing since this time last year.”

Mr Linz, from Whitefield, who was married to Rachelle for 34 years, said his family hoped doctors would be able to cure her condition after she was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis in 1997. She had to use a wheelchair after falling and breaking her leg in three places.

Mrs Linz was buried at the Agecroft Cemetery in Salford last Wednesday.

Assisted suicide, which is illegal in UK, has long provoked debate in the Jewish community.

Last month, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis welcomed the failure of a parliamentary bill to legalise assisted dying in Britain. MPs voted against by 330 votes to 118 in its second reading.

In a social media post, Chief Rabbi Mirvis said: “There is no greater value in Judaism than the sanctity of life. As a most precious gift from God, life has an absolute value, its preservation takes precedence over other commandments and it is not ours to cut short.”

Earlier this year, Jewish businessman Jeffrey Spector, a father of three, ended his life at an assisted suicide clinic after being diagnosed with a terminal tumour on his spine.

The 54-year-old made the decision against the wishes of his wife and children, because he believed it would be in their "best interests".

He took his life after a meal with his loved ones.