The Bishop of Carlisle today leads the tributes to a popular city vicar who has lost her battle with cancer.

Reverend Sue Wicks, vicar at St Elisabeth's Church in Harraby, died late on Friday night at the Eden Valley Hospice.

She had been admitted to the Blackwell Road hospice earlier in the day.

The Diocese of Carlisle says Sue, 51, battled courageously after cancer, which she knew was terminal, was diagnosed in July 2016.

The congregation held a minute's silence in the church at the start of yesterday's emotional Sunday morning service.

The church's regular coffee morning, held on the first Saturday of every month, also went ahead and raised more than £300.

The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Revd James Newcome, said: "My thoughts and prayers are with Sue’s family and friends, and with the congregation at St Elisabeth’s in their bereavement.

"Sue’s hope and courage and sense of calling and generosity are an example to us all.

"And what a job she has done at St Elisabeth’s! We give thanks for her life, and hold on to the hope of the Resurrection in which she lived and died."

Sue did a curacy at Whitburn in south Tyneside, in the Durham diocese, from 1988 to 2003 before she moved to Carlisle to become vicar of Harraby.

The Carlisle diocese said Sue had done a "tremendous job".

Boasting a growing congregation under her leadership, the church has flourishing groups for children and young people.

More than 80 youngsters attend weekly groups and church once a month.

They include Betty Bear for pre-school youngsters.

The church is also home to the 1st Carlisle St Elisabeth's Baden-Powell Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.

Working with young people was an important strand throughout Sue's life, both before and after she was ordained.

She served as a Girls' Friendly Society leader for many years and also worked for the YMCA.

Sue was also one of the leading members of St Elisabeth's Church working on a project to raise £1.5m to expand its site in Harraby.

Only last month she was the back-up driver for two volunteers from the church who completed a 720-mile bike ride from Land's End to Gretna Green.

It raised £7,500 for the church's STEP UP development scheme, which aims to raise the money to build a multi-use hall, community cafe and related facilities at the Arnside Road site.

Sue was described as "forthright" and a "friend to all, with an infectious personality".

With support from friends, retired clergy and the congregation, she continued to work up until her condition deteriorated.

Arrangements for Sue's funeral are yet to be finalised but a provisional date is 11am on Monday, October 16.