Many Sunday newspapers in the UK carried stories based on information from Mills' stepfather Charles Stapley and Alfie Karmal, to whom she was married briefly until 1989.

Fiona Mills said her sister was "thoughtful, giving and loving" and attacked the derogatory "rubbish" written in some newspapers about her.

Her kindness... touched my friend so much that she regained her will to persevere through amputations of her legs and fingers

Anne Thompson defends Ms Mills

"For the record, my sister is a truly thoughtful, giving and loving person who has always devoted herself to others, whether that be via her charity work or simply helping her family and friends."

Mr Stapley, who lived with Mills for five years in her teens, told the Mail on Sunday the anti-landmines campaigner was a fantasist who had been creative about her youth to "make her past sound more exciting".

The Daily Express carried comments on Mills from reported ex-boyfriend City broker Darryl Creasey.

But Mills' friends leapt to her defence and praised her charity work.

Phillip Goodhand-Tait, who has known Mills for 18 years, said she had been "over-enthusiastic" in helping others.

Mills lost a leg in 1993 when she was hit by a police motorcycle and has enjoyed a high profile as an anti-landmines campaigner and charity fundraiser.

Good works

"She has courted publicity it is true but has she ever abused her power to generate it? I think not," Mr Goodhand-Tait said.

David Nix, who has known Mills for 10 years through her charity work, said: "I could relate countless good works that she has carried out mostly with no-one knowing and also mostly out of her own finances."

Friend Kirsten Lever called for "every single newspaper" to apologise to the charity worker.

Anne Thompson contacted Mills after a friend had to undergo multiple amputations.

She recalled: "Her kindness and encouragement touched my friend so much that she regained her will to persevere through amputations of her legs and fingers."