A FORMER Hampshire television star has joined the tributes being paid to actress Lynda Bellingham, who died yesterday.

Actress Amanda Holden joined the mounting tributes to the 66-year-old who lost her fight against cancer at the weekend.

The star, who was best known for her long running role as the mother in the Oxo TV adverts and was also a regular panellist on ITV's Loose Women, died yesterday .

She was suffering from colon cancer, which later spread to her lungs and liver.

Ms Holden, who grew up in Bishop's Waltham and now a judge on Britain's Got Talent, wrote on Twitter: “So devastated to hear the news about the beautiful Lynda Bellingham.''

Lynda's acting career stretched over several decades and included the title role in sitcom Faith In The Future and regular stage roles.

Daily Echo:

She was the star of Calendar Girls (above) when it came to Southampton's Mayflower Theatre in 2010, playing matriarch Chris.

She has filmed a special farewell episode of Loose Women, which will air on Wednesday.

The mother-of-two's death comes just 10 days after the publication of her memoir.

She had been a high-profile supporter of Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support and was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours list for her charity work.

Diagnosed with cancer last July, she said she decided to end her treatment on August 13 to limit the amount of suffering her family would witness.

In a statement on their behalf, her agent Sue Latimer said: ''Lynda died peacefully in her husband's arms yesterday evening at a London hospital. Her family, to whom she was devoted, would like to thank the nurses and staff for their tremendous care and support.

''As an actor, writer and presenter, Lynda was a consummate professional to the very end.

''Those of us privileged to have known her personally will miss the entertaining, life-enhancing, true and honest friend that blessed our lives.''

Since news of Lynda's death broke this morning and tributes have flooded in for the actress from friends and colleagues to politicians and charities.

Loose Women issued a statement on its Twitter feed, saying: ''Our thoughts go to £lyndabellingham's family at this incredibly sad time and to all those whose lives she touched so deeply, as she did ours.''

Belllingham's co-star from All Creatures Great And Small Christopher Timothy said on BBC Breakfast: ''She was a life-force. She was funny, she was loyal, she was talented, that's without doubt. She was a great mum, she was a real friend and on-set she was 'one of the boys' really.

“We've all been expecting it but it's so unjust that she didn't make her last Christmas as was her intention.''

Kaye Adams, who also worked on the programme, said Bellingham was ''an incredibly courageous person''.

She told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: ''She just had such an energy and a dynamism and you were just always pleased to see her and always felt she was pleased to see you, which is a fabulous thing to be able to do.''

Presenter Phillip Schofield wrote: ''RIP Gorgeous Lynda Bellingham x.''

Former Loose Women star Denise Welch wrote: ''I loved my friend Lynda. I will miss her so much. xx''

Carol McGiffin, who was also on the ITV show, wrote: ''A very sad day indeed, rest in peace my friend.

''Lynda Bellingham was a courageous, talented and beautiful lady who I had the privilege of working with.''

Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said: ''Saddened to hear that Lynda Bellingham has passed away. Thoughts with friends and family.''

Barnardo's chief executive Javed Khan said: ''As well as being one of the nation's favourite actresses, Lynda worked tirelessly as a Barnardo's Ambassador to promote that work that we do with some of the UK's most disadvantaged children.

“She was particularly supportive of our work with adoption and fostering, due to her own background and her enthusiasm and kindness will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with her family.''