TRIBUTES have been flooding in for veteran Preston MP Audrey Wise, aged 68, who died at the weekend after a long battle against cancer.

The woman, championed for her tireless fight for genuine socialism, died peacefully at her son's home on Saturday night.

She had been diagnosed as having a brain tumour in April, but remained optimistic till the end.

In a statement, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said: "I was very saddened to hear of the death of Audrey Wise. She gave many years service both to the Labour Party and to Parliament. She was a dedicated constituency MP and my sympathy goes to her family at this time."

But perhaps the most poignant tribute comes from her daughter Valerie Wise, also a prominent local figure.

"Her heart was in Preston," she said: "She moved here and I think she gave her life to the people of Preston.

"She was more than just my mother -- she was one of my closest friends. We supported each other and talked about things. There's now a gaping hole in my life."

Audrey, who was born in Newcastle in 1932, has been the MP for Preston since 1987 and for Coventry South West from 1974 to 1979.

She leaves a husband, John, daughter Valerie and son Ian.

She will be remembered in a public memorial service at Preston's Parish Church, in Church Street, at 1pm on Thursday September 14. It will be followed by a private service for family and friends at the Crematorium.