Diana Sowle death: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory actress dies aged 88

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory star Diana Sowle has died at the age of 88.

The American actress was best known for her role as Charlie’s mother, Mrs Bucket, in the 1971 classic film.

A representative for the star confirmed to the BBC that Sowle had died in the early hours on Friday “with family by her side.”

In a statement they said: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the loss of beloved friend, family member and actress Diana Sowle at the age of 88.

"She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, and will be dearly missed."

The Willy Wonka film is an adaption of the much-adored Roald Dahl children’s book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

She was one of the last surviving adult stars in the film after Gene Wilder, who played the title hero, died in 2016 after battling with Alzheimer’s disease.

Remembering the actor, she told CTV News at the time: “We'd be working on a scene and having a lunch break and he would be coming in to film another scene, and he would join us on a lunch break and we'd have lunch.

"He was so nice, he never acted like, 'Oh I'm a bigger star than the rest of you', he was always friendly and courteous and funny and told nice stories."

Sowle also made appearances in two 1994 films, Guarding Tess and Clear and Presenter Danger.