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Dame Thora Hird, who has died aged 91, was one of the UK's most-loved performers.

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Backstage at London's Palace Theatre with her daughter Janette Scott in 1953.

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With co-stars Robert Keegan and James Grout, promoting BBC sitcom The First Lady in 1968.

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Dame Thora had starred in Last of The Summer Wine since 1986. Here she is seen in 1988 with Jane Freeman and Kathy Staff.

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She was given an OBE in 1983, and husband Jimmy Scott and daughter Janette Scott joined her at Buckingham Palace.

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Some of Dame Thora's best work was with writer Alan Bennett. In Waiting For The Telegram, she played a stroke victim.

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Aged 87, the Royal Television Society made her its actress of the year after her performance in touching drama Lost For Words.

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She became Dame Thora in 1993 - and celebrated with fellow entertainer Bob Monkhouse.