TRIBUTES have been paid to East Lancashire peer and national education expert Baroness Massey of Darwen who died on Saturday aged 85 after a long battle with cancer.

Elevated to the House of Lords in 1999, she was a former teacher and the director of the Family Planning Association from 1989 to 1994.

Educated at Darwen Grammar School where she was head girl as Doreen Hall, the humanist and fellow of the University of Central Lancashire was raised in the town's Lynwood Avenue.

Current Blackburn with Darwen Council education boss Cllr Julie Gunn said she was 'an 'inspiration to us all' while her predecessor Maureen Bateson described her as 'a great campaigner for the rights of others'.

In 2014 Birmingham University graduate Baroness Massey and her all-party parliamentary group for children held an 18-month Parliamentary inquiry into the treatment of children by the police.

In 2010 she played a key role in changing the Child Poverty Bill to recognise the role of grandparents.

Her husband of 58 years Les said: "She was an amazing woman. Always calm but firm.

"Her favourite job was teaching 'difficult' adolescent girls. She was passionate about learning."

Baroness Massey leaves a daughter Lizzie and two sons Owen and Ben.

She taught in Africa, the US and London from 1989 to 1994 and also wrote a novel “Love and Death in Shanghai”.

Her favourite spots in the world were Sunnyhurst Woods and the moors above Darwen.

Cllr Gunn said: "With her lifetime dedication to improving education and championing the interests of children and young people, Baroness Massey can be seen as an inspiration to us all.

""Her work on social justice, inclusion and challenging discrimination is something that we should all be grateful for."

Mrs Bateson said: "I am sorry to hear about her death. She was a former teacher and took a great interest in education and health and especially young people.

She was a great campaigner for the rights of others.

"She was proud of her roots and knew she wanted the name of Darwen in her title."

Rossendale and Darwen MP Sir Jake Berry said: "I was very sad to hear of Baroness Massey's death. We may have come from different sides of the political spectrum, but I know she was proud of her Darwen origins and had a long career of public service both in the House of Lords and before."

Darwen West councillor Dave Smith sad: "She was a lovely lady and obviously achieved a great amount in her field of expertise."