Housing Minister Kelly Tolhurst has resigned from the Government after receiving “devastating” family news.

The Rochester and Strood MP said she was stepping down to spend “precious time in the coming months” with loved ones.

The 42-year-old Conservative said she hoped to serve again as a minister.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “very sad” about the news.

He added Ms Tolhurst had been a “brilliant minister at three departments but family must come first”.

In her resignation letter to the PM Ms Tolhurst wrote:

“Following on from some devastating news for my family, after much consideration and deep reflection, it is with great sadness that I am writing to notify you of my intention to step down from my role as the parliamentary under secretary of state in the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government, so that I am able to care for, and spend some precious time with my family in the coming months.

“It has been an immense privilege to serve in your government under three different departments – in my current role as rough sleeping and housing minister, and previously as the small business minister in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and as maritime, aviation and security minister in the Department for Transport.”