Thunderbirds co-creator Sylvia Anderson dies aged 88

A producer and writer, Ms Anderson created the Supermarionation puppet series with husband Gerry.

She died at her home in Bray, Buckinghamshire, following a short illness, her daughter Dee Anderson confirmed.

“Sylvia was a mother and a legend - her intelligence was phenomenal but her creativity and tenacity unchallenged,” her daughter said.

“She was a force in every way, and will be sadly missed.”

Gerry Anderson died in 2012 aged 83 after suffering with Alzheimer’s disease.

As well as voicing Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward in Thunderbirds from its debut in 1965 until 1968, Sylvia also worked on Joe 90, Captain Scarlet and Stingray.

Born in south London to a boxing champion and a dressmaker, she went on to have a career in television spanning five decades.

She recently worked as head of programming for HBO in the UK and had been writing a show with her daughter entitled The Last Station.

Ms Anderson said her mother “would always find time to take care of people who were suffering or in need of support”.

The pair had planned a charity ball for Breast Cancer Care, which will now go ahead in May in her memory.

She is survived by her daughter, who is a singer-songwriter, son Gerry Anderson Junior, an anaesthetist, four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.