Former code-breaker and Tory peer Baroness Trumpington, who grew up in Kent before embarking on her illustrious career, has died, aged 96.

Known as one of Parliament's most colourful characters, the former government whip spent part of her early life growing up in the village of Goodnestone, between Canterbury and Sandwich.

Jean Barker, who later sat in the House of Lords for 37 years, worked triumphantly in naval intelligence during the Second World War.

Based at code-breaking headquarters at Bletchley Park, she helped Alan Turing's team transcribe messages from Nazi submarines.

Lady Trumpington went on to have a career in politics and only bowed out from the House of Lords last year.

She served in the Department of Health and Ministry of Agriculture in the 1980s and 1990s after becoming a life peer in 1980, taking up the title Baroness Trumpington of Sandwich.

She became more widely known in 2011 after being caught on camera in the Lords chamber flicking a V-sign at a Tory peer.

A lover of horse racing, she was a former steward of Folkestone racecourse.

Her son, Adam Barker, confirmed late last night she had died on Monday afternoon.

He tweeted: "My mother passed away this afternoon in her sleep. She did not make it to October 2022(100) ..but she had a bloody good innings."

Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch led the tributes.

She tweeted: "It was an absolute pleasure to have met her.

"She was wonderfully mischievous yet disarmingly charming and supremely intelligent.

"God help all those at the Pearly Gates...they have no idea what's about to hit them!! Love to all those she has left behind x."

Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat said: "I had the honour of ‘interviewing’ Baroness Trumpington on stage once.

"It wasn’t an interview. She spoke, we all listened, and it was one of the most fascinating and insightful hours of my life. Thank you for an amazing life of service to our nation."