TRIBUTES have poured in for former Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell, who has died aged 55 following a three-year-battle against stage four lung cancer.

Her colleagues led the outpouring of grief with actress Sally Ann Matthews, who played Jenny Bradley in Coronation Street from 1986 to 1991 and Sandra Briggs in Emmerdale in 2015, saying the "world has lost a little sparkle" after her death.

Ex-soap actress Bracknell, who lived in Worthing and played Zoe Tate in the Yorkshire Dales, died in September surrounded by family, her manager revealed.

Matthews was among the first to pay tribute and wrote: "So sorry to hear that the beautiful soul, Leah Bracknell, has lost her battle with cancer. The world has lost a little sparkle x."

Director Duncan Foster said: "I'm truly sad to hear that we have lost Leah Bracknell.

"She was one of the first actresses I ever worked with. Very talented and also just a very special woman. So sad. RIP Leah. X."

John Whiston, ITV's managing director of continuing drama and head of ITV in the North, said: "Everyone on Emmerdale is very sad to hear of the death of Leah Bracknell.

"Leah was a hugely popular member of the Emmerdale cast for over 16 years.

"During that time she featured in some of the show's most high profile and explosive plots and always delivered a pitch perfect performance.

"Zoe Tate was one of soap's first lesbian characters and Leah made sure the character was both exciting and credible.

"Leah herself was a very generous and caring colleague, much loved by cast and crew alike."

Bracknell previously described how she had an "attitude of gratitude" during her cancer battle. She was often vocal about her cancer treatment, sharing her experiences in a blog and through interviews.

In the months leading up to her death she wrote "The Cancer Rebel's Manifesto for Life' to 'reject the notion of being a victim".

In it, she said: "I rebel against the fear of cancer, against pity from others and myself, against being defined by cancer, and against being bullied by cancer."

And in her final interview in August she said that she wouldn't "let herself live in fear" adding that she was "just going to have a good life".