GIRLS Aloud star Sarah Harding has died of breast cancer aged 39.

The singer revealed last year that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and the disease was spreading to other parts of her body.

Her mother, Marie, announced her death today, Sunday September 5, with a post shared on Harding’s Instagram page. She wrote that her daughter had died “peacefully” this morning.

The caption of the post reads: “It’s with deep heartbreak that today I’m sharing the news that my beautiful daughter Sarah has sadly passed away.

“Many of you will know of Sarah’s battle with cancer and that she fought so strongly from her diagnosis until her last day.

"She slipped away peacefully this morning. I’d like to thank everyone for their kind support over the past year.

"It meant the world to Sarah and it gave her great strength and comfort to know she was loved.”

Marie added: “I know she won’t want to be remembered for her fight against this terrible disease – she was a bright shining star and I hope that’s how she can be remembered instead.”

Harding revealed in March this year that Christmas 2020 was “probably my last” as her cancer had spread to her spine.

She also said that she had nearly died of sepsis in hospital and was put into a coma for two weeks.

Rising to fame on Popstars: The Rivals, Harding performed with Girls Aloud for 11 years, from 2002 to 2013, before the band went their separate ways.

In 2017, she won Celebrity Big Brother and had also pursued a career in acting.

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