Canterbury Cathedral service for author Nicole Dryburgh

Nicole Dryburgh was diagnosed with a tumour at the age of 11

A service celebrating the life of author and charity fundraiser Nicole Dryburgh has been held at Canterbury Cathedral.

The 21 year old, from Whitstable in Kent, battled cancer for 10 years but died from a brain haemorrhage in May.

Friends were asked to wear pink to the service because it was the colour that dominated her life.

Ms Dryburgh was diagnosed with a tumour at the age of 11 and subsequent problems left her blind and deaf.

Singer Newton Faulkner performed at the service as patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust, which she supported.

Regional fundraising manager of the trust, Helen Haynes, said Ms Dryburgh had "achieved so much in her short life".

"We are just going to celebrate everything that she achieved and pay tribute to the wonderful life that she led," she said.

"She really touched so many peoples' lives and made a huge difference to many, many people, including teenagers with cancer."

Rehabilitation unit

She added that Ms Dryburgh was "selfless" and an "incredible inspiration to everyone who met her".

"She did not want anyone else to go through what she went through, and she wanted to make it better for others."

During her three-year period in remission, Ms Dryburgh wrote two books, The Way I See It and Talk to the Hand, and received both the Diana Award and the inaugural Anne Frank/Miep Gies award.

Earlier this month, a rehabilitation unit for seriously ill children was opened in her memory at King's College Hospital, in south-east London.

Ms Dryburgh raised £43,000 towards the unit, which helps children recovering from severe brain and spinal injuries.