British gangster Reggie Kray dead

The notorious British gangster, Reggie Kray, has died of cancer -- bringing to an end a chapter in British criminal history.

Reggie, who was sixty-six, was one of the Kray twins who controlled the most violent criminal gang in Britain in the1950s and 60s, which had a Mafia-like grip on the East End of London.

The Krays had connections to showbusiness and the world of politics.

Reggie Kray served thirty-two years in prison for the murder of a fellow gangster Jack "The Hat" McVitie.

Kray was released last month on compassionate grounds because of his deteriorating health.

He and his brother, Ronnie, who died in prison five years ago, were both jailed for life for murder.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service