THE manager of Bradford Theatres has paid tribute to Lynda Bellingham, who died yesterday.

The popular actress and presenter died aged 66 after suffering from colon cancer, which spread to her lungs and liver. Miss Bellingham's decision to end her treatment in August was revealed in a newspaper serialisation of her autobiography. She said: "The decision to give up chemo was a huge relief because I took back some control of myself."

Bradford Theatres general manager Adam Renton said: "We are deeply saddened to learn of Lynda's death. She was a much loved performer at the Alhambra Theatre, most recently in her brilliant roles in Calendar Girls and 2012/13Cinderella. She was vibrant, funny, kind and considerate to everyone, I will remember her always with a smile on her face. Our thoughts are with Michael and her family at this sad time."

Miss Bellingham was in the original production of Calendar Girls - based on the Rylstone and District WI's nude calendar which raised more than £3m for Leukaemia Research - and returned to it for the final tour in 2011. When it came to Bradford that year she told the Telegraph & Argus: "The show has never lost sight of what inspired the calendar. People didn't talk about cancer then like they do now. It has changed all that, and changed the face of fundraising."

Miss Bellingham was an ambassador for Age UK and a supporter of charities including Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support. She was awarded an OBE this year for her charity work.

While in Bradford playing the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella last year, she backed a Barnado's campaign promoting fostering and adoption in the district. She said: "Being adopted myself, I know just how life changing adoption can be for a child. There are so many children who may be going through a difficult time in their lives and desperately need a safe and secure home."

The Montreal-born actress got her break playing a nurse in 1970s soap General Hospital and became a household name as the much-loved 'Oxo Mum' in TV adverts in the 1980s. Over a 40-year career she starred in many TV dramas and comedies including All Creatures Great and Small, At Home with the Braithwaites and sitcoms Second Thoughts and Faith in the Future.

In 2007 she joined ITV's Loose Women as a panelist and in 2009 she competed on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing. More recently she presented ITV food series My Tasty Travels.

Last year Miss Bellingham was due to star in Kay Mellor's play A Passionate Woman at the Alhambra, but the tour was postponed when it was announced that she had been diagnosed with cancer.