Carla Lane dead: The Liver Birds and Bread creator who returned OBE dies aged 87

Liverpool-born writer became one of the most highly paid TV scriptwriters of her generation

Writer Carla Lane has died aged 87 (Getty)

Carla Lane, the television writer best known for her work on The Liver Birds and Bread, has died aged 87.

Ms Lane, who was born Romana Barrack, became one of the best paid TV scriptwriters of her generation and was a household name during the seventies and eighties.

In a brief statement to the BBC her son confirmed her death saying: "We were very lucky that her quick wit, determination & passion brought Liverpool to life on screen for others to share".

Ms Lane most famous for the Liverpool-set sitcom, The Liver Birds which starred Pauline Collins, Polly James and Nerys Hughes as single women sharing a flat and dealing with life's ups and downs.

The original series ran from 1969 to 1979 and returned briefly in 1996.

In 2002, Ms Lane, who was also known for her animal rights activism, famously returned an OBE she had been awarded in 1989 after Brian Cass, the managing director of an animal testing laboratory was also given the honour.

In 2013, a sanctuary for abandoned and mistreated animals adopted her name in the village of Melling in Merseyside adopted her name in honour of her work and became known as the Carla Lane Animals in Need Sanctuary.

Last year she opened a £315,000 special unit at the centre.

Fran Ellis, who worked at the sanctuary with Ms Lane, told the Liverpool Echo: "She really was an amazing lady".

Melane Hill, who starred as Aveline Boswell in her sitcom Bread - the story of a Catholic family in Liverpool which ran from 1986 to 1991 - led the tributes to her on Twitter:

Ms Lane is survived by her two adult sons.