CANCER specialist Dr David Pickering, a consultant at Maidstone Hospital, has died of a heart attack at the age of 53.

The clinical oncologist was on holiday in Corfu when he died suddenly on Friday while out cycling with his family. Dr Pickering dealt mainly with breast cancer patients. He had also worked at Pembury Hospital in Tunbridge Wells for 18 years.

A graduate from the Westminster School of Medicine and the Westminster and Hammersmith Hospitals, Dr Pickering was appointed consultant clinical oncologist of the Kent Cancer Centre in 1994. He had a special interest in all methods of non-surgical management of breast cancer and will have helped hundreds of women across Kent recover from cancer surgery.

Consultant surgeon Peter Jones from the breast clinic paid tribute to his colleague and friend, who he had known since they were both students. He said: "The hospital has been stunned by this. We have lost a really well-respected and valuable member of medical staff."

Dr Pickering, who lived off Tonbridge Road, East Peckham, was on holiday with his wife Pam, his two sons from a previous marriage, along with Pam's daughter, her husband and their baby. His body is being flown back to Kent for his funeral. Details will be posted on the breast clinic's website at www.breastclinic.co.uk.