TRIBUTES have been paid to a 'bubbly, loving and adventurous' woman who inspired an annual charity music festival.

Kate Hennessy, who had cystic fibrosis and underwent a double lung transplant in August 2012, died aged 23 at Harefield Hospital in London on Friday surrounded by her family including mum Gail, dad Mike and brother Jim.

Her family set up the annual Hen Fest event in 2011 as a way to raise awareness of becoming an organ donor, which grew from the garden of their home to a field next to Julian's Bridge in Wimborne containing 500 people.

The aim was to raise awareness of the NHS Organ Donor Register while collecting funds for Harefield Hospital, where Kate was treated during her lung transplant.

Her mum Gail said: "She had a remarkable short life, and I am so proud of the strength, determination and all the things that she had achieved post transplant. She was known and loved by many many people."

In a post on her Facebook page, Gail added: "I guess most of you know by now that our darling beautiful, bubbly, loving, amazing, caring, brave and adventurous daughter lost her final battle on Friday. She put up a tremendous fight right unto the end."

She continued: "As a family we are still all in total shock. I feel like my insides have been ripped out, and can't imagine what a world without Kate will look like, but I will get there. I always promised her that I would.

"Words cannot express the depth of the hole that her passing will leave in so many people's lives.

"However I count myself lucky to have been blessed with the time I did have her for and remain forever grateful for the four extra years that her donor gave to her."

Charles Elder, whose daughter Hannah is a friend of Kate's, said on social media: "Sadly, on Friday, we lost Kate as cystic fibrosis took its toll, but the brilliance of her short life lives on in all of us who knew and loved her. Now it's time for you to do something in her memory. It's very simple - become an organ donor. Wherever you are in the world, sign up today and make it possible for someone like Kate to benefit from your selflessness."

The family are currently in the process of making arrangements for Kate's funeral.

For more information on the organ donor register, go to Organdonation.nhs.uk