Colleagues, family and friends of a policewoman, who lost her fight with cancer hours after getting married, are to hold a football match in her memory.

Sergeant Juliet Sowter was diagnosed with cancer in autumn 2010 after discovering a lump in her groin.

Despite undergoing an operation to have her lymph nodes removed, the cancer was found to have spread and in January 2011 she was told it was incurable.

The 42-year-old’s boyfriend John proposed after the terminal diagnosis and after the wedding was brought forward as her health deteriorated, the couple married on the Howard Ward at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton on February 21 last year.

She died hours after the ceremony.

Her death was particularly tragic for parents John and Jenny, who also lost daughter Joanne in a road accident just before she turned 16 in 1986.

The popular policewoman joined the Metropolitan Police aged 32, after becoming bored of her nine to five job in accounts and because she wanted to make a difference.

During her career she was awarded a Borough Commander's Commendation for bravery, courage and resilience for her part in policing serious public disorder in Croydon during the European Football Championships in June 2004.

She also received an Assistant Commissioners Commendation for professionalism and dedication to duty for her response to the 7/7 bombings where she led police at Kings Cross Station.

Sgt Sowter worked for several years in Croydon Town Centre and subsequently transferred to Merton.

Officers from both boroughs will play a friendly on February 24 next year, at Imber Court, the Met's sports club.

Money raised will be donated to cancer charities Macmillan and Cancer Research, chosen by Sgt Sowter, before she died.

Sister Kathryn Sowter said: "She was not only intelligent, kind and caring, but she had a very straightforward way about her and was someone you felt safe with.

"It didn’t surprise any of us that, despite joining the Met relatively late, she enjoyed a very successful career and was incredibly well liked and respected by all her colleagues.

"Throughout her short battle against cancer she showed immense dignity and strength. She was and still is an inspiration to all those who knew her."

To donate to Cancer Research visit justgiving.com/Sgt-Juliet-Sowter or to donate to Macmillan visit justgiving.com/Sgt-Juliet-Sowter2.