Hillsborough justice campaigner Anne Williams has died at the age of 62.

Mrs Williams, who had fought for the new inquest into her son Kevin’s death in the 1989 football tragedy, had been suffering from cancer.

Kevin was one of 96 Liverpool fans who died as a result of a crush during an FA Cup match at the Sheffield stadium.

Mrs Williams made her last public appearance on Monday at the annual Hillsborough memorial service at Liverpool’s Anfield stadium.

At an inquest in 1991, jurors heard that Kevin and 94 others were dead by 15:15 GMT, a verdict which Mrs Williams never accepted.

‘Fantastic lady’

She tracked down witnesses, one of whom suggested Kevin uttered the word “Mum” at about 16:00.

Her calls for a fresh inquest were rejected by attorney generals and the European Court of Human Rights.

But following the publication of The Hillsborough Independent Panel’s report in September, a further appeal by the families of the victims to quash the verdicts was upheld.

Mrs Williams, who said she “was never going to give up”, travelled to the High Court in December to hear the ruling, despite being terminally ill.

Pete Weatherby QC, Mrs Williams’ barrister, said she had had “a quiet determination [and was] a tremendous force who didn’t understand defeat”.

Kevin Robinson, the former chairman of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign, described her as “an absolutely fantastic lady in every way”.

“I’m sure Kevin would be more than proud of her, and she was very proud of Kevin,” he said.

‘Tireless campaigner’

Former footballer Kenny Dalglish, who was manager of Liverpool on the day of the Hillsborough disaster, said the death was “really sad but for her a release from her suffering and a chance to see her boy again”.

“I am sure Kevin will be telling her how proud of her he was [and] our thoughts and prayers are with her family,” he said.

A spokesman for Liverpool FC said the club was “saddened to hear of the passing of long-time Hillsborough campaigner Anne Williams”.

“Anne may not have survived to see ultimate justice for her son, but her actions have played a significant part in ensuring that 96 families have moved closer to Hillsborough closure,” he said.

The Labour MP for Liverpool Walton, Steve Rotheram, who campaigned for the inquest verdicts to be quashed, said her “passing is a painful reminder of the families’ long and arduous fight for justice”.

“My sincere hope is that after a battle that demanded too much of her time and energy, Anne is now at peace with the son that was taken from her in April 1989,” he said.

“Kevin’s last word before he died was ‘Mum’ – Anne’s relentless pursuit of justice for her son personified the unyielding bond of a mother’s love for her child.

“She was an inspiration to thousands of women across Merseyside and Britain.”

Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson said she was “an inspirational person whose determination and conviction played a significant role in exposing the cover up over Hillsborough”.

Musician Peter Hooton, who campaigned with the Justice Tonight band on behalf of the families of the Hillsborough victims, wrote on Twitter that it was “very very sad news” Mrs Williams had died, adding she had been a “tireless campaigner”.