The devastated family of a popular teenager has been left heartbroken after he lost his battle with a rare brain cancer.

Canterbury College student Samuel Thorne, 17, died in the early hours of this morning and his mother Linda broke the news to his many friends and supporters on the Herne Bay Chatter Facebook group.

She wrote: "This morning at 3 o'clock my precious boy Sam flew away with the angels.

"You have left the biggest hole in my heart my darling. I am going to miss you so very much."

Writing on her Facebook page, his sister Kellyann Eskisan wrote: "Sam my heart is broken in more than two. Fly high little man."

Sam, who lived in South Road, fell ill in April and was admitted to a specialist London neurology hospital several weeks ago with suspected white matter disease which caused him speech, sight and mobility problems.

But recent tests revealed he was suffering from an untreatable cancer called Gliomatosis cerebri.

His condition deteriorated and last week he was taken into the care of Demelza House hospice.

Sam was a keen Herne Bay scout and had attended the Spires Academy in Canterbury before starting a carpentry course at Canterbury College.

In the early stages of his illness, his family and friends rallied to raise funds for a bucket list of things he wanted to do.

They said he was always a bit of a joker and a big fan of Michael McIntyre whose live show he wanted to see.

Unfortunately, he became too ill to attend but the comedian sent him a personal video message of support.