Heartbroken friends and family have paid tribute to a former nurse who died in a fire aged 100.

Violet Kilby, who was known as Kay, became trapped in her burning mobile home in Longbeech Park on Tuesday afternoon.

Fire crews rushed to the residential site off Canterbury Road in Charing just after 2pm, but were unable to reach her in time.

Miss Kilby lived on the site for more than 30 years and over time, grew very close to those living around her.

Described as a "happy-go-lucky lady", neighbours say the 100-year-old had a great sense of humour and would do anything for those around her.

Diane Moody, who lived next door to Kay for 33 years with her partner Bill, said: "When we moved in, there was only us, Kay and another lady living in this end of the site or the horseshoe, as we like to call it.

"Kay introduced herself and brought us some cakes, from then on we were friends.

"She was really great. She had a great sense of humour and she had all of her marbles.

"All her life she has done good, she was a strong Catholic and she used to go to mass when she was able to drive.

"To think somebody like that died that way, she just went to bed and never got up."

Born in July 1918, Miss Kilby - who had one daughter that lives in Germany and three grandchildren - moved to Kent from Guildford in the 1950s.

She served as a nurse in the Second World War and went on to work as a midwife, school nurse and district nurse before retiring aged 60.

Her niece Janice Davey, of Broomfield Road in Kingswood, has paid tribute to her "fabulous aunt".

'She was a great character and tried to be as independent as possible...' - Janice Davey

The 69-year-old said: "She was a great character and tried to be as independent as possible.

"Kay loved gardening and rambling in the woods. She was as bright as a button and a very determined character.

"In her later years, she enjoyed reading and loved tennis.

"We have treasured memories together, she took us to Spain when we were kids.

"We used to pack up the car and go, she used to drive us there and we camped in Spain for six weeks.

"She would do anything for anybody."

Neighbours living close to the fire witnessed the incident unfold on Tuesday.

Daphne and Charles Greaves, who lived close to the retired nurse for around 20 years, said that around 10 emergency vehicles - including police, fire and ambulance - were on scene at the time of the fire.

"We only saw the smoke at first and then we saw the fire engines arrive," said Mr Greaves.

"It took a long time to put the fire out, they couldn't even get into the house because it was too hot.

"It took around two or three hours to put it out."

"I walked up there at the time of the fire and when they told me what had happened, I felt like I was going to cry."

"She seemed very interested in people and what they did.

"She was a lovely lady, very kind, generous and friendly."

'I walked up there at the time of the fire and when they told me what had happened, I felt like I was going to cry...' - Charles Greaves

Neighbour Val Swift, 72, added: "I went out and asked what was going on and my neighbour said that Kay's mobile was on fire.

"The emergency services came within five minutes.

"It was very frightening.

"She was a very happy-go-lucky lady, she had a good sense of humour and she loved her garden - she drove her car in her 90s."

Her carers also remember her fondly, including Zoëy Clark, who cared for her for eight months.

She said: "My heart just sank because I heard from a friend that there was a fire in that area and thought nothing of it, but when I saw the picture on Facebook of Longbeech Park and the age of the woman I just knew it was her.

"She was hundred years old and very proud of it.

"She'd correct you when you'd say she's a 100 years old, saying 'I'm older than that because it's past my birthday."

"I had a particularly good relationship with her.

"Some people you care for, you don't always get on with, but she was amazing.

"All the carers loved Kay, they all adored her. If everyone in the world could've met her, everyone would have loved her."

The cause of the blaze is not yet known.