A mother who is struggling to pay living expenses has started a fundraising page for her "brave and lovely" daughter's funeral.

Kiri Russell, from Orpington, was admitted to hospital on April 29 with high sugar levels, and spent time in the ICU before looking better and being taken home on Friday, May 5.

She died suddenly on Monday, May 8, aged 28.

Her mother, Nina Rymer, said her and her second daughter Carla are looking for anything to sell to raise the money for a funeral for Kiri because they don’t have the savings to pay for one.

She said: “She was so brave, she was a really happy. She never complained and never moaned. She was like a little hero.

"It is all up in the air at the moment. We don’t mind where the money comes from we just want to get Kiri out of the hospital."

In an open letter on the fundraising page, Nina, of Waltham Close said she can’t afford the funeral as she only works part time due to illness and does not qualify for government funding.

So far more than £500 has been raised towards the £3080 target.

Kiri, who had type one diabetes and part of her foot amputated, is currently having an autopsy to confirm her cause of death but her mother thinks others with diabetes should be encouraged to check their potassium levels.

Kiri had several seizures and Nina said she had never had a social life, a first kiss or first date.

She said: “I cannot stand the thought of my daughter staying at the hospital morgue for longer than she needs to. She was my hero, it is so hard to put into words.”

Click here to view the gofundme page for the funeral.