Tributes pour in to brave Linda

Grieving Sir Paul was being comforted by his children at his home in Peasmarsh, near Rye. It was announced last night that Linda had lost her brave battle against cancer, two years after it was first revealed she was fighting the disease. Tributes to Linda were pouring in from across the world today. Scriptwriter Carla Lane, who lives near Haywards Heath, became closefriends with Linda through their shared love of animals. She said today: "Linda was the kindest person on earth, she was so loving. "If Linda was to be remembered she would want it to be for her love for animals. The plight of animals was always a big cloud over Linda's life." A spokesman for the Rye Memorial Care Centre, near the McCartney family home and whose existence was only made possible by funds from the couple, said staff and patients were "deeply saddened". Yoko Ono, the widow of murdered ex-Beatle John Lennon, said she too was deeply upset to hear of Linda McCartney's death. Yoko's New York-based publicist Elliott Mintz said: "She's in a state of shock. "She spoke to Linda within the past year and Linda sounded her usual, powerful self to Yoko." Former Wings guitarist Laurence Juber today described Linda McCartney as a "strong, warm and compassionate woman". Linda died in Santa Barbara, California, where she had been holidaying with Sir Paul, on Friday. But her death was not announced until last night by Sir Paul's publicist Geoff Baker. Mr Baker today appealed for journalists camped outside the McCartney's Sussex farm to give the family time and space to "come to terms with their understandable grief." Despite their fame, the McCartney's had become fully involved in the local community in Sussex. Linda had taken part in many local environmental protests, including the demostrations against live exports from Shoreham Harbour in 1995.

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