A SHOWBIZ journalist from Bury who received the backing of stars such as Simon Cowell and David Beckham during her fight with colon cancer has died.

Amy Watts passed away at the age of 37 following a seven month battle with the disease, after her condition began to deteriorate.

Her celebrity friends had rallied around a fundraising campaign named Hold Amy's Hand, in a bid to raise £100,000 to fund pioneering surgery.

The campaign managed to raise the ambitious total, but sadly Amy died before she could have the surgery.

Celebrities to show their support on Twitter or offer donations included Kylie Minogue, Noel Gallagher and Susan Boyle, as well as Tracey Neville, sister of former Manchester United stars Gary and Phil, who was one of Amy's former classmates.

A post on the campaign's Facebook page said: "We're sorry to announce that our darling Amy passed away peacefully at 2am this morning. (March 5)

"She was surrounded by her family and a lot of love.

"This may come as a shock to many, sadly over the past few weeks Amy's condition had worsened and she was unable to have the operation you all worked so hard towards."

Amy had been having chemotherapy every two weeks to try and shrink the tumours, and she was due to have an operation in December to cut out the cancer, which had spread to her liver, but doctors in the US told her there was nothing more they could do.

She sought a second opinion back on home soil at the private Spire Hospital in Leeds, who recommended two operations, the first of which was due to be held in February, but Amy's condition had started to worsen by this time.

The former Woodbank Primary School and Elton High School pupil began her journalistic career on the Daily Star in London, before moving to Los Angeles to work for the Daily Mail.

The post on Facebook continued: "Thank you to everyone who held her hand and showed her just how special she is. Our thoughts go out to her family and friends at this heartbreaking time. Rest in peace Amy."