A 25-year-old mother-of-four died after a year-long struggle with cervical cancer after allegedly not being offered a smear test.

Sadie Blackston’s sister said she visited her GP three or four times to complain of pain and bleeding but was not offered the cervical screening and instead was sent away with painkillers.

The NHS cervical screening programme, which encourages women to get tested every three years, begins at 25.

It follows an almost identical case in Sunderland where family of Amber Rose Cliff, who died last month, claim she was denied a smear test at 21.

“The cancer would definitely have been caught earlier if she had been given a smear test,” said Lizzie Blackston, speaking to Kent Online.

“The age should be lowered to 16 because that's when you can legally have sex.”

Ms Blackston, who was diagnosed in January 2016 and underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, had approached doctors before her 25th birthday and diagnosis.

The woman, from Gravesend, died at her mother’s home in Meopham, Kent, on 7 February surrounded by friends and family.

Family are fundraising towards a £2,000 target, which has already passed £2,800, to help finance the funeral and burial.