First female MI5 Director General Dame Stella Rimington has died aged 90, her family announced.

Known as the "housewife superspy" when she assumed the role, Rimington is said to have inspired the role of Dame Judi Dench's M in the James Bond films.

The former Director General was born on May 13, 1935 in South Norwood, south London.

She died on Sunday night and in a statement, her family said she was "surrounded by her beloved family and dogs and determinedly held on to the life she loved until her last breath".

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