A young mum of four has died following a year-long battle with cervical cancer.

Sadie Blackston was diagnosed with the disease in January 2016 and initially underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment but was later told the cancer had spread and was no longer treatable.

The 25-year-old died on Tuesday at her mum's Meopham home, where she grew up, surrounded by family and friends.

Her sister Lizzie Blackston, 23, said Sadie, who previously lived in Park Place, Gravesend, will never be forgotten.

The mum of four said: "She was a lovely person and a very loving mum, sister, daughter, auntie and friend.

"Everyone loved Sadie. I'm lost for words to be honest. We are all devastated, ripped apart. She will never be forgotten."

Lizzie said Sadie had visited her GP three or four times complaining of pain and bleeding but, despite a history of cervical cancer on their mum's side of the family, she was not offered a smear test and instead sent away with painkillers.

She was finally diagnosed after she collapsed and had to be rushed to hospital.

The current age when women start having regular smear tests is 25 but many people, including Lizzie, feel it should be lowered.

She said: "The cancer would definitely have been caught earlier if she had been given a smear test. The age should be lowered to 16 because that's when you can legally have sex.

"There are so many women in their early twenties who get cervical cancer, the age should definitely be lowered."

Although the family knew Sadie's cancer was terminal Lizzie said they were not prepared for how quickly she deteriorated in the final few days.

Lizzie continued: "She was ok on Saturday. She was sitting up and she ate a bit of chicken kebab.

"But by Sunday she was very poorly and we couldn't understand what she was saying."

When a nurse visited Sadie on Tuesday she told mum Leanne Limes that if any family or friends wanted to say goodbye they should do it that day as she was unlikely to make it through the night.

All the family and some close friends gathered at the home in Longfield Road and Sadie died at 9.40pm.

Lizzie said: "We weren't expecting it so quickly."

Her family and friends are now raising money to give Sadie the funeral and burial she helped plan.

They are keeping the details under wraps but have set a fundraising target of £2,000.

Earlier in the year family and friends raised more than £1,000 so Sadie could take her four children on a trip to Disneyland and create happy memories.

Tragically, she was too ill to make the trip.

Lizzie said: "She spent the money wisely on things for the children. When they went to visit her she had gifts for them."

As well as her mum and Lizzie, Sadie leaves sister Iesha Jarvis, 26, brothers Reece Blackston, 24, and Nazir Dillon, 11, and children Morgan, seven, Kenzie, five, Ellisia, four and Harvey, two, as well as many friends.

Tragically her dad Mark Blackston was murdered by his partner when she was a child.

Her funeral will be held at Christ Church, Old Road East, Gravesend, at midday on Friday, March 17 followed by a burial at Northfleet Cemetery at 1.30pm and a wake at the Ship and Lobster in Mark Lane, Gravesend. Flowers can be sent to Tender Touch in Sun Lane, Gravesend, by the morning of the funeral or there will be a collection pot at the church for donations to ellenor hospice charity.

Donate towards the funeral costs here.