Hi-De-Hi! actress Diane Holland, who played snooty ballroom dancer Yvonne Stuart-Hargreaves, has died aged 78, her publicists confirmed.

Holland passed away on January 24 after suffering from bronchial pneumonia.

Mahoney Bannon Associates (MBA), who represented the actress for almost 30 years, said on their website that she was "a delight in every sense of the word".

A statement from the agency said: "Diane had a wonderful dry sense of humour and she was loved and respected by everyone who came into contact with her.

"Diane trained originally as a singer and dancer - but soon combined those with her talents as an actress.

"She had a long and distinguished career - she will be best known for her fabulous character, the snooty ballroom dancer, Yvonne Stuart-Hargreaves, in the BBC series Hi--De-Hi! - and she also appeared in the Are You Being Served spin off Grace and Favour.

"However, her talents went much further than that - each year until recently she performed Christmas recitals at The Royal Opera House."

As well as a natural gift for comedy, Holland, from Godstone, Surrey, had a talent for serious roles such as Casualty, Bergerac and Poldark.

She also appeared regularly in the West End and provincial theatre.

One of her favourite roles was that of The Maiden Aunt in the Royal Ballet television production of The Nutcracker.

MBA said: "Diane will be missed by all of us - and especially by her sister (actress) Gilda Perry and (script writer) brother-in-law Jimmy Perry."

Holland's agent Bo Keller said: "She had such a dry sense of humour. She was nothing like Yvonne Stuart-Hargreaves.

"She just was very funny, very dry, always a caustic remark to make if necessary.

"She was very hard-working."

A private funeral will be held for Holland on February 28, the day of her birthday. A public memorial service will take place in the Spring.