Kent has been paying tribute to former Labour cabinet member Tessa Jowell following the news of her death.

The politician was diagnosed with brain cancer in May last year, and the 70-year-old's family have announced she lost her battle yesterday.

She had been in a coma since Friday, after suffering a haemorrhage.

During her time in office, she was in charge of London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics and more recently had campaigned for more cancer treatments to be made available through the NHS.

Prime Minister Theresa May said the dignity and courage with which Dame Tessa confronted her illness was "humbling" and "inspirational", and her campaigning was a "lasting tribute to a lifetime of public service".

In Kent, county councillor for Sevenoaks North and Darent Valley, Roger Gough, tweeted to say: "Very sad indeed to hear of the passing of Tessa Jowell, whom I stood against in Dulwich and West Norwood in 1997.

"She was a fair and gracious opponent - and got rather more votes than I did. And like others I was moved by her grit and determination to benefit others in her illness."

Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield also paid tribute to her fellow Labour party member.

Ashford MP Damian Green told Kent Online: "Tessa Jowell was one of the few politicians who had respect, admiration and friendship from all sides in the House of Commons.

"She was always polite and helpful as a Minister, and she left a real legacy with her part in the 2012 Olympics. We will all miss her."

Sir Roger Gale, MP for North Thanet, said Dame Tessa "epitomised the capacity to put party-politics to one side" and spoke of her many friends from across the political spectrum. He said:"Beyond Westminster people tend not to appreciate the very strong and real cross-party friendships that exist between Members of Parliament irrespective of policy differences.

"She was rightly hugely respected for her principles and courage and she will be greatly missed."

Conservative MP for Chatham and Aylesford, Tracey Crouch, said she was very sad to hear the news, adding: "She was respected across the political divide for her calm, polite manner. She will be remembered for many things including of course successfully bringing us the London Olympics."

Dame Tessa, who was the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood from 1992 to 2015, held government ministerial positions including Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for the Olympics. She stood down from the House of Commons at the 2015 general election and was nominated for a life peerage later that year.

Announcing her death, a statement from her family said: "Her husband David and their children Jessie and Matthew were by her side, with Jessie's husband Finn, Matthew's wife Ella, and David's children from his first marriage.

"In addition to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, in recent months doctors tried innovative new treatments which Tessa gladly embraced, but sadly the tumour recently progressed very quickly."

The statement thanked people for their "overwhelming support" since Dame Tessa became ill.