A much-loved youth football secretary has died from Covid-19.

Patricia Martin, 79, of Whitfield, succumbed to the more infectious new variant that first appeared in Kent last month.

Daughter Helen Martin 50, said: "We had kept her safe all this time but she was struck by the new strain. It has been horrendous."

Mrs Martin died last Thursday (January 14) at Flimley Hospital in Surrey.

She had been staying in the area with her eldest son Brian, 59.

Mrs Martin had been secretary for the East Kent Youth Football League since 2017.

Miss Martin told Kent Online: "She did the work voluntarily and helped so many youth clubs get established and go in the right direction.

"She was a big hearted person and as her children we didn't realise how much she did for the league until we saw the tributes on social media.

"Mum was a woman we looked after her family and loved her grandkids to pieces.

"She helped many people all over Kent over the years."

East Kent Youth Football League announced Mrs Martin's death on January 14 on its Facebook page.

Tributes poured from members of football groups she worked with.

Sally Heath wrote: "Pat was an amazing ambassador for grassroots football. She will be sadly missed."

Richard Hills said: "She had such a massive heart. She would help anyone and she did me."

Char Hollingsworth wrote: Such sad news, love and thoughts to Pat's family from all at Cheriton United FC."

EKYFL covers the districts of Dover, Thanet, Canterbury, Folkestone and Hythe and the Faversham area.

In her working life Mrs Martin was an administrative assistant in Dover.

She was also for many years a voluntary worker for Sibertswold Primary School in Shepherdswell, helping in school fetes and aiding children in tasks such as reading.

Patricia Martin was the wife of the late Brian Martin Sr who was a Dover district councillor from 1991 to 1995 and 1999 to 2003.

He was the Conservative member for the then Pineham ward, which covered Whitfield.

Patricia Martin leaves two other children, Paul, 56, and Nigel, 54, and eight grandchildren.

Those wishing to send floral tributes should do it through the Sullivan and Son funeral directors at Beaconsfield Road, Dover.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent.