Hanna Yusuf dead: 'Talented' BBC journalist who wrote about the hijab dies aged 27

Tributes have been paid to a popular BBC journalist who died suddenly aged 27.

Hanna Yusuf was described by colleagues as a "talented young journalist who was widely admired".

Her recent work included an investigation into working conditions at Costa Coffee - which prompted the company to carry out an internal audit.

In a statement, Hanna's family said: "Hanna was a dedicated young vibrant professional who became a bridge between the media and the community, helping break boundaries in providing a voice and representation.

"Many will know Hanna for her incredible contributions to journalism and for her work at the BBC.

"While we mourn her loss, we hope that Hanna's legacy will serve as an inspiration and beacon to her fellow colleagues and to her community and her meaningful memory and the people she has touched for many years lives on."

The family described her death as "sudden and unexpected".

Katherine Viner, editor-in-chief at The Guardian, where Hana contributed before joining the BBC in 2017, said : “Hanna won the Guardian’s Scott Trust student bursary in 2016 and was a wonderful journalist.

Hanna had worked at the BBC since 2017 (Instagram)

"She was incredibly intelligent, adaptable and full of ideas, as well as being a lovely person.”

Fran Unsworth, the BBC's director of news, said: "This is terrible news that has left us all deeply saddened. Hanna Yusuf was a talented young journalist who was widely admired across the BBC and our utmost sympathies go to her family and many friends. Hanna will be much missed."

And colleague Sophia Smith Galer said: "We have lost a fierce friend and a force for truth and light which stretched far beyond her journalism to the many lives she touched here at the BBC and beyond."

Friends and family have voiced their devastation following the journalist's death (Instagram)

Hanna, who spoke six languages, was born in Somalia and had previously lived in the Netherlands before settling in the UK.

The cause of her death is unknown.

She worked as a researcher for News at Six and Ten before she moved to the BBC News Channel and wrote for the corporation's website.

In a blog post friend Alex Taylor described Hanna as a "beautiful person".

He wrote: "I lost a friend. The BBC lost a talented young journalist with oceans of potential."