Carla Lane dies aged 87

Television writer Carla Lane has died at the aged of 87, her son has confirmed.

Ms Lane wrote much-loved BBC comedies The Liver Birds, Bread and Butterflies, and became known for her intelligent scripts with strong female lead characters.

Bread, set in her native Liverpool, became one of the most popular TV sitcoms of its time.

She was also known for her animal rights activism, and owned a sanctuary in Sussex.