The family of a mother-of-three who lost her battle with cancer have urged women to go for smear tests to avoid future tragedies.

Sian Barrett died last Tuesday at ellenor hospice in Northfleet. She was just 34.

Paying tribute to Sian, mum Lyne said she had “a heart of gold”, adding: “Everybody who knew her absolutely loved her.

“She was the life and soul of the party. You could hear her coming before you saw her.”

The New Ash Green resident received the devastating news she had stage four cervical cancer last March.

Her sister Vikkie said: “We want to encourage girls to go for their smear and we think the age should definitely be lowered.”

Cervical screening is currently available to all women aged over 25 but there have long been calls to lower that limit.

Sian Barrett was a devoted mother to her three children, Chantelle,13, Demi, 11, and Lilly, eight, and was with partner Shaun for 16 years.

Youngest daughter Lilly has severe autism and is non-verbal, meaning Sian looked after her on a full-time basis.

Heartbroken parents Lyne and Vic moved from their home in Chartham to New Ash Green when Sian was a child.

The 34-year-old attended Our Lady of Hartley Primary School and then Longfield Academy and was well known in the area she called home for 23 years.

The family, which includes sisters Shelley and Vikkie and brother Jason, was left devastated when Sian was diagnosed.

Lyne said: “She has to have a colostomy bag and 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 disease took hold.

“Sian would do anything for anyone. You could have given her 100 children to look after and you wouldn’t have to worry - you know that Sian would look after them.”

She died on May 22 at ellenor hospice surrounded loved ones.

Staff had also made a special bond with her.

“They were brilliant in their care for her and Sian made a lasting impact with two of the nurses,” said Lyne.

She will be laid to rest at Ash Church next Thursday at 12.30pm.

Brightly coloured flowers are welcome while any donations can be made to ellenor, in Coldharbour Road, Northfleet.