The devastated family of a mum who tragically died of cancer say she had a "heart of gold".

Sian Barrett - who grew up in Chartham - was a devoted mother to her three children, Chantelle,13, Demi, 10, and Lilly, eight, and was with partner Shaun for 16 years.

Her heartbroken parents, Lyne and Vic, moved from their home in Chartham to New Ash Green when Sian was younger.

The 44-year-old attended Our Lady of Hartley Primary School and then Northfield Academy and was well-known and liked in the area she called home for 23 years.

"Everyone knew Sian and everybody loved her," said Lyne. "She was the life and soul of the party, absolutely loved karaoke and was a real character - you could hear her coming before you saw her."

The family, which includes sisters Shelley and Vikkie and brother Jason, were left devastated when Sian was diagnosed with stage four cervical cancer last March, with the last year of her life especially hard and traumatic.

Lyne explained: "She lost her dignity. She was of such young age to have to deal with that. She used to suffer and I used to say to her 'why don't you ask for pain relief and help?' and she would always say to me 'mum, I don't want to be a burden'.

But Lyne remembers her caring and vivacious daughter with fondness before the terrible disease took hold. "Sian would do anything for anyone," she said. "You could have given her 100 children to look after and you wouldn't have to worry - you knew that Sian would look after them.

"We had a fiery relationship but she was incredibly close to her dad - they were very similar. I loved her dearly, still do and will do forever. She was a beautiful person inside and out."

Sian died last Tuesday at Ellenor Hospice in Gravesend surrounded by loved ones.

"The staff were brilliant in their care for her and Sian made a lasting impact with two of the nurses," said Lyne. "She fought so hard and never wanted to give up."

Funeral arrangements have yet to be made.