Sally Ann Howes, who played the role of Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, has died at the age of 91.

The actress starred alongside Dick Van Dyke in the 1968 film, and had a 60-year career on stage and screen.

According to The Times she passed away on Sunday December 19, with no cause of death having been disclosed.

Her nephew, Toby, confirmed the news on Twitter, writing: “I can also confirm the passing of my beloved Aunty #SallyAnnhowes who died peacefully in her sleep yesterday.

"My brother & I thought Sally Ann might hold on until the #Christmas screening of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as this would have greatly appealed to her mischievous side.”

Howes began her acting career as a child with a role in the 1943 film Thursday's Child, and went onto appear in several films in the 1940s such as Nicholas Nickleby and Anna Karenina.

It was in the 1950s that she took on her first professional stage role in the Sandy Wilson musical Caprice, and eventually made her way to the West End and Broadway.

She had roles in stage productions such as Paint My Wagon and My Fair Lady.

After appearing in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang she had a fruitful career in TV and on stage right up until the mid-2000s.