A bride-to-be died weeks before her wedding day after losing her battle with skin cancer aged 24.

Veterinary nurse Kate Martin, 24, was due to wed fiance Joel French but never made the altar.

She had been given just months to live after a single mole on her back developed into a deadly tumour.

Kate's parents have now spoken about the tragedy and urged everyone to be aware of the tell-tale signs of the cancer.

Friends said Kate, and Joel, a successful editor at a London production company, were the perfect couple.

Kate's life took a tragic turn after four years ago after a massuse spotted a mole on her back and she had it removed. Reports came back that the mole was cancerous - a malignant melanoma - and Kate underwent surgery to remove surrounding tissue to ensure the cells had not spread.

She was left with an eight inch scar, but following checks every three months, was content her cancer had gone.

In November Kate, from Lindfield, Sussex and who worked at Oathall Veterinary Practice in Haywards Heath, was crippled with excruciating back pain and sent for a CT scan.

Her mother, Jill Martin, 50, said: "It took quite a while for the results to come back and we just thought no news was good news.

"Then on December 28 they called her down to Brighton and told her she had a large tumour on her spine.

"She went to see the radiologist, expecting to receive radiotherapy treatment.

"But the hospital didn't know the desperate nature of the disease and the radiologist told her it was incurable.

"That wasn't the extent of the bad news though. Three days later she saw the oncologist who told her she had six to eight months to live.

"She had her first radiotherapy treatment that day. She died 75 days later.

"You would never ever want to die of it. It's just the most awful way to die. Thankfully it's quick because she couldn't have managed for much longer.

"As parents we said we were working one day at a time but we got to working half a day at a time because that's how quickly it could change."

Her wedding was booked for August 9 but doctors advised her to move it forwards. She did so, to April 5, but died on March 15 from breathing complications.

The cancer had spread from the spinal tumour into her blood supply and affected her lungs and liver.

"When she told us we just couldn't believe it," added Mrs Martin. "We were all in a total state of shock.

"We couldn't believe that at 24 years old you could die so young and so quickly."

Kate's age meant her body was producing cells faster than an elderly person would, which meant the cancer was spreading quickly.

Mr Martin, 51, an accountant, said: "The way she explained it to us she was very quiet.

"She didn't cry very much and she told me afterwards that was because it made the pain worse."

Mr and Mrs Martin had always used suntan lotion and Kate, who never used sun-beds, was always careful in the sun.

Instead it appears the mole she had removed at the age of 19 killed her four years later.

And now, as National Skin Cancer Awareness Month draws to a close, they have warned people of all ages to check their moles, as well as taking care in the sun during the summer months.

Mr Martin said: "We always used lotion and hats and covered up in the sun so this just goes to show that you need to have your moles checked.

"Lots are fine and the sooner you capture the naughty ones and have them cut out the better.

"Think about it - if you have any concern, get them checked out."

The family now regularly check their own moles. Kate's twin sister Ami, 24, has had one, considered "85% nasty", removed from her body.

Friends and family had organised a big bash for Kate and Ami's 24th birthdays on January 20, fearing it would be Kate's last.

But too ill for any festivities, Kate was rushed to St Peter and St James Hospice in Wivelsfield, near Burgess Hill.

She spent more than three weeks at the hospice during her final months and her parents could not speak highly enough of the staff.

Mrs Martin said: "Everyone there was absolutely fantastic, from the very first time we went there. You couldn't fault them, they were marvellous. We are still in touch with them now and have the offer of counselling too.

"All the staff there were devastated when she died. We had all got to know each other so well. On the day Kate passed away we must have had 30 people coming in to see her."

The hospice requires £3,300 of charity donations a day to run and friends have set up a memorial fund in Kate's memory, the proceeds of which will go to the hospice.

Already Suzanne Fox and Felicity Stewart, who Kate worked with and would have been her bridesmaids, have raised more than £4,000 with a sponsored skydive. They, along with scores of friends and family members are also competing in Ardingly's Race for Life next month.

Anyone who wishes to donate to the Kate Martin memorial fund should contact St Peter and St James Hospice on 01444 471598 or enquiries@stpeter-stjames.org.uk.