TV star dies in Ilford house fire

An 85-year old lady who died in a house fire in Ilford on Tuesday has been named as TV star Anna Karen.

Firefighters were called to the blaze in Windsor Road at 10.30pm and the fire was brought under control in less than an hour, but the actress was found dead inside.

Born Ann McCall, Ms Karen came to fame as Olive in the classic late 1960s comedy series On The Buses and later appeared in Eastenders opposite her close friend Dame Barbara Windsor as Peggy Mitchell’s sister.

The cause of the fire is under investigation but is not thought to be suspicious.