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Emmerdale star Kitty McGeever has died.

The popular actress, who played mischievous Lizzie Lakely on the ITV soap, was surrounded by her family as she passed away last night (August 16).

McGeever joined Emmerdale in March 2009 and was the first blind actress to be cast as a regular in a UK soap.

She appeared on the show until March 2013, when ill health forced her to leave.

Confirming the sad news, an Emmerdale spokesperson told Digital Spy: "It is with much sadness that Emmerdale confirms actress Kitty McGeever, who played the character of Lizzie Lakely, passed away last night, surrounded by her loving family.

"Kitty was a great talent and a true inspiration to all who worked with her. The cast and crew are devastated at her passing and she will be missed tremendously and remembered fondly by all of us."

Lizzie was a popular addition to the long-running drama, initially introduced as a loveable rogue when she arrived wearing a tag following a conviction for a petty crime.

Her bad behaviour continued as she saw some of the locals as new targets for mischief, including when she conned her friend Marlon Dingle into accepting her romantic advice via an expensive psychic telephone line.

Lizzie did settle down over time as she made more friends in the village, and she helped to keep Jai Sharma's workforce laughing when she took up a job at his sweet factory.

She also supported her best friend Lisa Dingle after Lisa confided in her about being raped by evil Derek Benrose.

Prior to Emmerdale, McGeever worked as a stand-up and her other screen credits included roles in Beautiful People and London's Burning.

More recently, she had filmed a role in horror movie The Unfolding, which is due to be screened at the Frightfest film festival on August 28.

Digital Spy