A HAMPSHIRE father has paid tribute to his daughter for her bravery in highlighting the dangers of sunbathing as she battled skin cancer.

Anna West from Chandler's Ford lived life to the full and was keen to prevent others from getting the disease.

The 21-year-old finally lost her fight last week.

Writing in the Daily Echo last year, Anna urged sun worshippers to not risk getting mela-noma (skin cancer) by sun bathing and to use high factor sun cream if they did.

Despite undergoing painful treatment, she was determined to spread awareness of the fastest growing cancer in Britain which kills 1,500 people every year.

Anna was studying English at Cardiff University when she noticed a mole on her back last February. This was operated on swiftly, but the cancer was already spreading to her neck, liver and lungs.

She then had four months of chemotherapy at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London and, just before Christmas, was given the all clear.

But at the beginning of this month she discovered that the cancer had spread to her brain and spine.

Her father, John West, said: "Anna was very brave in wanting to publicise skin cancer. She had letters from people who had never even met her, saying how inspiring her article had been."

He added: "She lived life to the full and relished it. She was very active and fun loving."

Anna, a former pupil of King Edward VI School, in Hill Lane, Southampton, enjoyed acting and was a keen tennis player.

Mr West added: "She fought right to the very end.

"She very much wanted anyone who knew her to go to her funeral and wear something green as this was her favourite colour.

"We are going to celebrate her life."

* Anna's funeral takes place this Friday at St Boniface Church, Hursley Road, Chandler's Ford at 2.30pm. Her family has requested no flowers but donations may be made to Wessex Cancer Trust's Marc's line on 023 8067 2200.