Friends of Mo Mowlam, the former Northern Ireland Secretary who is critically ill in hospital, say her condition has deteriorated.

The former Redcar MP was moved from hospital to a hospice last week. She is now being cared for at the Pilgrim Hospice in Caterbury.

She had previously suffered a brain tumour.

Ms Mowlam stood down as an MP at the 2001 election after 14 years.

She had been made Northern Ireland Secretary when Labour swept to power in 1997 and made a name for herself as a down-to-earth and often too-honest politician.