In Pictures: Barbara Windsor at 70

Much-loved British actress Barbara Windsor, whose career in showbusiness spans more than five decades, celebrates her 70th birthday on 6 August.

Born in 1937 in Shoreditch, east London, Windsor began her career as a chorus girl - a role she would later revisit in the 1964 version of Night of a 100 Stars.

Roles in Sparrows Can't Sing and The Rag Trade made her one of the brightest stars of the 1960s. This shot from 1969 sees her rubbing shoulders with gangster Reggie Kray (right).

For many, though, 'Babs' will be best remembered for her roles in the ribald Carry On comedies. Carry On Camping, released in 1969, remains a particular favourite.

Windsor appeared in nine Carry Ons in all, plus a number of TV specials and compilations. Carry On Henry, released in 1971 and co-starring Sid James, was her fifth.

After the Carry On era Barbara Windsor remained a TV fixture, appearing in such shows as Worzel Gummidge, One Foot in the Grave and You Rang, M'Lord? opposite Paul Shane.

Since 1994, however, it is her role as Peggy Mitchell in BBC One's EastEnders for which she has been most associated. In 1999 she was named best actress at the British Soap Awards.

Windsor's time in Albert Square has seen her character battle breast cancer, marry Frank Butcher (played by the late Mike Reid) and pull countless pints as landlady of the Queen Vic.

Official recognition came in 2000 when she was made an MBE by the Queen. The same year she became the first soap star to be honoured by waxwork museum Madame Tussaud's.

Barbara Windsor had a chance to meet the Queen again in 2001 when Her Majesty paid a visit to Elstree Studios, where BBC soap EastEnders is filmed.

Even Doctor Who is a fan of the formidable Peggy, judging from this scene from a 2006 episode of the popular BBC One science-fiction series.

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