A young mother has died from cervical cancer after being classed as too young for a smear test which could have saved her life.
Rachel Sarjantson, 24, battled the disease for a year before her death, which her family has described as "completely avoidable".
The legal age for a smear test is 25, and despite her being called early for the test, it was too late as the aggressive cancer had already taken over her body.
Her mother, Lisa, said: 'She was a loving person and very close with her little boy. Throughout the whole thing, she remained positive.
'She never gave in and made a bucket list because as far as she was concerned she was going to beat it.'
Her family are now campaigning to lower the age limit for cervical screening and said a simple procedure could have prevented the tumour developing.
Her sister, Zoe, 28, who worked with Rachel, said: 'If the age limit had been lowered already, she might still be here.
'So many young girls are dying of it. Maybe in time they can help other mums, for their children's sake if not anything else.'
Cervical cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages but the most common is irregular bleeding, in between periods, after sex or after the menopause.
When Miss Sarjantson was finally given a smear test, it was too late as she had already been diagnosed with aggressive cancer that had taken over her body
Prior to Rachel's death friends had began raising money to help cover the costs of her respite and recovery.
The money will now be used to pay for her funeral, which was due to take place today.
A recent petition to lower the screening age limit to 16 received more than 300,000 signatures.
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