A dedicated maths teacher described as a "true hero" by a pupil has lost her battle with cancer.

Sallie Lunn was a teacher at the independent primary school Seaton House, in Sutton, from September 2006 to January 2013 - when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

She died on Friday, July 5, after a battle with the disease and the school has pledged to continue their support the Royal Marsden cancer hospital in her memory.

Mrs Lunn along with another member of staff, Shella Hossenbux, initiated the school’s Mini Marsden March two years ago and the school has already donated over £21,000 to the hospital.

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Sallie Lunn 

Their initiative was even featured on This Morning after Peter Andre paid a visit to the school as part of his daytime slot, Cancer Diaries.

The school’s headmistress Virginia Rickus said Mrs Lunn nurtured the girls, who were almost like her family, and listened to their problems.

She said: "Mrs Lunn was always there to champion those that felt themselves to be struggling and to help them build up their self confidence.

"Mrs Lunn’s death has left a yawning gap in the Seaton House community, which words cannot describe.

"The girls have lost a dedicated teacher and all the staff have lost a dear friend.  It will be very hard to imagine Seaton House without Mrs Lunn’s warm and caring presence. 

"However I know that Mrs Lunn would not want the school to dwell on her death, but instead would wish us to remember all that she stood for, all that she did, and to go forward, strengthened as a community."

The week before Mrs Lunn’s death head girl at Seaton House, Ella Emanuel, wrote to the Sutton Guardian to describe what an extraordinary teacher and "true hero" Mrs Lunn was.

She said: "She was a true inspiration to me when I was in her class as she gave me the confidence to ensure that I became the best I could be."