A school has paid tribute to a "kind and generous" teacher who helped improve the lives of hundreds of children before her tragic death.

Gill Slatter from Whitstable died last week following a lengthy cancer battle, which she bravely documented on Twitter.

The 41-year-old had worked as a Year 6 teacher and deputy head at Palmarsh Primary in Hythe for five years until last March.

The school's head teacher, Jamie Leach, has delivered a heartfelt tribute to his former colleague, who he says "had an amazing sense of humour".

Mr Leach told KentOnline: "Gill was such a kind and generous person who always had time for everyone.

"She was a very talented teacher who always put the children first and nothing was too much.

"Gill led by example and would support staff, using her expertise to guide and encourage others.

"She has helped improve the lives of so many children throughout her teaching career through understanding and kindness."

Gill had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.

She underwent chemotherapy, before going into remission.

But just seven years later she was told the devastating news she had stage four bowel cancer.

Gill regularly shared updates on her condition on Twitter, with her posts seen by more than 20,000 people at a time.

In her last post, Gill revealed on December 22 she was in the same hospital ward that she had been in since the end of July and that "the chemo has stopped working".

Her tragic death was announced by her family on the social media platform last Thursday.

Mr Leach continued: "I have had the privilege of working with Gill over the past two decades and her love and enthusiasm for teaching never waned.

"Gill will be sorely missed by the children, adults and all those who have had the joy of knowing her."

Tributes poured in for the former teacher following her death.

"She was a very talented teacher who always put the children first and nothing was too much..."

More than 7,000 Twitter users shared messages, with noting how she "touched so many lives, so many that she hadn't even met".

One of her former pupils, Lili Barlow, said: "Gill was one of my favourite teachers at school.

"She has inspired me to become a teacher myself."

Another social media user, Vicky Murphy, said "she was a wonderful teacher to my son, and I’m proud to say that she went on to become a colleague and a friend".

Follower Martin Daly added: "Although I never met her, I knew her to be incredibly stoic, inspirational and kind despite being dealt the toughest of circumstances.

"The world is a darker place without her presence, but heaven has gained a tremendous angel."