An inspirational former TV presenter, author, and journalist has lost her four year battle with cancer.

Jane Furnival, who lived with her three sons, husband and dog Boo in the idyllic and surroundings of the Old Rectory in Cheam, died this week aged just 55.

A tireless campaigner for the elderly residents of Elizabeth House and a wonderfully gifted woman, Jane's oldest son Will said his Mum was fighting to the end.

He said: "She was a fantastic person, and we will all miss her. She fought right to the very end and we're all bearing up at the moment."

Jane had led an incredibly colourful life and had a glittering career which culminated in a presenting role on prime time BBC TV, hosting Smart Spenders.

Will said: "She was writing until she passed away. She was pleased to have finished the two novels she was working on before she died."

He reminisced: "I remember at one point she was a professional complainer, people would tell her about companies treating them badly and Mum would ring and give them hell."

After gaining a degree at Oxford University, Jane went on to become one of the first female advertising agency creative directors in London, aged only 29. She married Andy Tribble not long after, and the couple bought a houseboat on Eel Pie Island.

Following the birth of her first child Will, Jane became a freelance journalist.

Jane said: "I worked on the European in the early days, when I was slim and probably physically at my prime, wearing sharp suits and ladylike hats and going off into Eastern Europe, to Moscow, Italy and France in pursuit of stories and learning to think on my feet and juggle small change in the days before Euros. I kept $100 and a bottle of whisky in my luggage."

A truly fascinating life, and a truly wonderful woman who summed herself up when she told the anecdote: "I particularly liked the comment of a presenter when I walked into the studio of You and Yours once (Radio 4 consumer programme on which Jane regularly featured), 'oh good, here's Jane – now we'll have a bit of fun'."