Touching tributes have been paid to a “caring” mum who “always put animals first”.

Folkestone resident Lisa Jayne, 51, cared for and rehomed hundreds of hedgehogs across the county.

The selfless mum-of-one would treat the prickly creatures in her shed as she was the go-to person for rescuing wildlife.

But sadly, after being diagnosed with cancer three years ago, Lisa died last month.

Her brother Ben Pearce has paid tribute to her tireless work to help animals in need.

“She cared more about the hedgehogs than herself,” the kmfm presenter said.

“When she was in her final couple of years, she took in a blind hedgehog while she was really unwell.

“One of the last things she asked me to do was to make sure it doesn't go back into the wild and to find it a home.”

He says his sister, who previously lived in Densole near Hawkinge, usually cared for about six hedgehogs at a time but has treated hundreds over the years.

“She loved animals so much that if she was unwell, instead of saving her dinner for later, she would feed the seagulls or the foxes,” Mr Pearce added.

“She was such an animal person.

“Her passion for hedgehogs was sparked by her neighbour finding one.

“Lisa phoned the vets and they said they couldn’t help it so they looked after it.

“My dad said the animals knew she was living there and it was a safe place to be as they managed to find their way to her.”

When her attention wasn’t focused on the hedgehogs, she also looked after snakes, mice, rabbits and cats.

She would even find time to feed foxes in the garden or seagulls on the roof.

Mr Pearce says vets would sometimes ring her to ask for her advice about wildlife that had arrived on their doorsteps.

Lisa previously worked at Park Farm Primary School in Folkestone.

Mr Pearce said: “She loved working with kids and was a very creative person.

“She was always caring and didn’t sit still.”

Lisa died on April 18 following a long-running battle with cancer.

“She was diagnosed three years ago,” Mr Pearce added.

“She was told it was serious but she rang the bell and was cleared of it.

“It showed her love of life and you can tell by what she did for the animals she was strong-willed.

“But six weeks later, it returned again.”

Her family have launched a fundraiser for the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, which can be found here.

It was a charity Lisa was very passionate about and almost £600 has been raised so far.

Tributes have flooded in following her death.

Helen Flanagan said: “Lisa showed such care and passion for the animals.

“She rescued five babies from my garden, treated and nurtured them all back to health and re-introduced them back into hoggy-friendly gardens again.”

Julie Danch wrote: “I found a hedgehog that was cold and took it to Lisa.

“What an amazing lady. She explained everything to me, weighed the hedgehog and then gave it a water bottle.”

Ann-Marie said: “Your sister chose a very worthy cause to care about.”