Actress Una Stubbs, known for her roles in Till Death Us Do Part, Sherlock and Worzel Gummidge, has died at the age of 84.

The star had a career in film, television and theatre spanning decades.

Her family said: "Mum passed away quietly today with her family around her, in Edinburgh. We ask for privacy and understanding at this most difficult and sad of times."

Her agent Rebecca Blond, who represented the actress for more than 20 years, said she will "miss her enormously".

"We are desperately sad to have lost not only a wonderful actress, whose screen and stage career, spanning over 50 years, was so extraordinarily varied, from Till Death Us Do Part to Sherlock, as well as memorable performances in the West End, at the Old Vic, Donmar Warehouse, Sheffield Crucible and National Theatre, but also a wickedly funny, elegant, stylish, graceful, gracious and kind and constant friend," she said in a statement.

"She was also a highly respected and exhibited artist. We will miss her enormously and remember her always."

Stubbs, who was born in Hertfordshire in 1937, found fame in the 1960s, starring in films like Summer Holiday alongside Sir Cliff Richard and playing Rita Rawlings in the BBC sitcom Till Death Us Do Part.

She went on to star as Aunt Sally in Worzel Gummidge in the late 1970s and Miss Bat in The Worst Witch in the late 1990s.

For several years, she was a team captain in the weekly game show Give Us A Clue in the 1980s.

She also appeared in EastEnders, The Catherine Tate Show, Fawlty Towers, Heartbeat, Benidorm, We'd Quite Like To Apologise, and Agatha Christie's Marple.

In addition to her work as an actress, Stubbs was also a keen amateur painter who had her work displayed at the Royal Academy in London.

She was married to actor Peter Gilmore from 1958 to 1969, with whom she adopted son Jason, and then married Nicky Henson in 1969, before they split in 1975.

The couple had two sons, Joe and Christian, both of whom are composers.

Christian wrote on Twitter: "Some of you may have known her as Rita, as Sally as Bat or Hudson but to my two brothers and I she was known as Mum.

"Thanks for everything Mum RIP."

Sherlock creator Steven Moffat described Stubbs as "the irreplaceable heart and soul" of the show.

She played Mrs Hudson opposite Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman in the hit BBC series, which Moffat created with actor Mark Gatiss.

"The loveliest light on Baker Street has gone out," said Moffat on Instagram.

"What a woman, what a talent, what a star - and just about the kindest, nicest, funniest person you could meet.

"I don't know how anyone even starts summing up that career - Till Death Us Do Part, Fawlty Towers, the incomparable Aunt Sally in Worzel Gummidge ... and, of course, the irreplaceable heart and soul of Sherlock."