TRIBUTES have poured in for a “beautiful, brave and determined” teenage cancer sufferer who passed away last week.

Maisie Norton, 17, of Grove, died on Thursday after a six-year battle with cancer.

Since being diagnosed with a tumour on her kidney in 2009, Maisie had helped to raise hundreds of pounds for cancer research and won awards for her efforts.

After the Oxford Mail published the news on Saturday, thousands of people read the article and many shared their thoughts.

Care assistant Christine French from Faringdon posted on Facebook: “RIP to such a brave determined young lady. Thoughts go out to her family at this sad time.”

District nurse Tina Wright said: “Such a beautiful young soul, thinking of her family and friends.”

Oxford dental nurse Lucy Bennett Jenkins simply wrote: “God bless you Maisie. RIP.”

Maisie’s school, King Alfred’s Academy in Wantage, has set up a commemorative area in its sixth form with flowers and photographs, and invited students to contribute to a book of memories.

As a 15-year-old, Maisie and another young cancer sufferer from Wantage, Mikayla Beames, inspired more than 500 people to join a sponsored run and walk in the town for Cancer Research UK.

The month before, she had been presented with the Jake Spicer Special Recognition Award for her fundraising at the Oxfordshire Youth Awards at Oxford’s New Theatre. And in August last year she passed 11 of her GCSEs at King Alfred’s, a landmark she thought she might never have reached.