A veteran MP, who served for 18 years in the House of Commons, has died.

Andrew Rowe was Conservative Member of Parliament for Mid Kent from 1983 until 1997, and its successor constituency, Faversham and Mid Kent, from 1997 until 2001, when he stepped down.

He was succeeded by the current Faversham and Mid Kent MP Hugh Robertson (Con).

It is understood he had been fighting cancer for a number of years.

Mr Robertson said: "He will be particularly remembered for his fight on behalf of constituents blighted by CTRL. He was a man of huge moral courage and great integrity, underpinned by strong Christian beliefs, who was liked and respected by friends and opponents alike.

"He was extraordinarily kind and generous to me as his successor and all our thoughts are with Sheila and the family at this time."

Fellow Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, for Maidstone and the Weald, said: “He was a very compassionate man and he was totally devoted to his constituency.

“He was extremely popular, and extremely well respected. He was also terribly helpful to me when I was first made MP for Maidstone.”

Mr Rowe lived in Bearsted, near Maidstone.