The flu virus sweeping Britain has claimed the life of the only sister of Welsh singing star Dorothy Squires.

Irene Perks, 87, died at The Hollies Nursing Home, Preston Park, Brighton, after suffering a chest infection.

Mrs Perks is survived by her husband of 69 years, George, 92. The couple formerly lived in Brunswick Road, Hove.

The couple have one son, Bernard, two granddaughters and one great-granddaughter.

Mrs Perks was a staunch supporter of her sister, who rose to fame in the Thirties as a teenage dance band crooner at the Ritz ballroom in Llanelli, South Wales.

Dorothy Squires, who died in April, 1998, married James Bond actor Roger Moore in 1953 and had hits including Say It With Flowers and Tammy Tell Me True.

Her marriage to Moore broke down in 1961 when he fell in love with the actress Luisa Mattioli, with whom he was filming in Yugoslavia.

Mrs Perks appeared on stage with Miss Squires and Moore in a series of pantomimes, including Dick Whittington and Jack and the Beanstalk.

Mrs Perks' husband spoke of his sorrow at her death today.

He said: "My wife had been bedridden and in failing health ever since Dorothy's death from cancer, which was a great blow to her."

"She was just not strong enough to survive this terrible flu epidemic," he added.

News of Mrs Perks' death comes as

hospitals geared up for another day of increased emergency admissions as the pressure on beds and the flu outbreak showed no signs of abating.

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