TV actress Ash stable in hospital

Ash is best known for her role in TV's Men Behaving Badly

Actress Leslie Ash is in hospital in a stable condition after contracting "an unknown infection", her publicist said.

Neil Reading said the actress was believed to have contracted an infection while at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital earlier this week.

The Merseybeat star was admitted to that west London hospital with a broken rib and collapsed lung on 24 April.

Her sons and husband Lee Chapman are at her bedside at Charing Cross hospital where she was admitted on Friday.

'Extensive tests'

Mr Reading said that extensive tests had been carried out the results of which would be known later on Sunday.

"She has been prescribed a strong course of antibiotics and the hospital doctors say she is responding well to the treatment," he said.

Ms Ash, 43, is best known for her role in the hit BBC sitcom, Men Behaving Badly.

The actress and her husband, a former Leeds United and Arsenal striker, own a number of restaurant-bars, and have co-hosted the TV show, Dinner Dates.

Mr Reading added: "The infection attacked her nervous system and for a short time she lost the feeling below her waist, which has now started to return."

After the actress was first admitted to hospital last week she and her ex-soccer star husband released a statement stressing that her injuries were the result of an "accident".

Ash had explained that she suffered the injuries when she hit a bedside table while having sex.