Singer and actress Bernie Nolan dies

The singer and actress Bernadette 'Bernie' Nolan has died at the age of 52 after a long illness.

Bernie Nolan is best known as the former lead singer with The Nolans and for her parts in television dramas, Brookside and The Bill.

Born in Dublin but raised with her five sisters and two brothers in Blackpool, Bernie Nolan toured the local pubs and clubs with her family before The Nolans achieved mainstream success in the late seventies and early eighties with hits like I'm In The Mood For Dancing.

She left the group in 1994 to concentrate on acting; performing in the West End stage production of Willy Russell's Blood Brothers before landing parts in the Channel Four soap Brookside, playing Diane Murray, and later, as Sheelagh Murphy in The Bill.

In 2010 she revealed she was suffering from breast cancer. Following treatment, she recovered only for the cancer to return last year.

A spokesperson for her family said: "Bernie passed away peacefully this morning with all of her family around her".

"The entire family are devastated to have lost beloved Bernie, a wonderful wife, adoring mother and loving sister, she is irreplaceable."

She is survived by her husband Steve Doneathy who she married in 1996, and their daughter Erin.