Soap opera stalwart Meg Johnson has died at the age of 86 after battling dementia "for the last few years", it has been confirmed.The death of "kind and wonderful" Johnson, who had played Pearl Ladderbanks in Emmerdale since 2003, was announced in a joint statement from her family, talent agency Jorg Betts Associates and the ITV show.It said: "It is with great sadness that we announce that actress Meg Johnson passed away peacefully yesterday evening surrounded by her family."

Soap opera stalwart Meg Johnson has died at the age of 86 after battling dementia "for the last few years", it has been confirmed.The death of "kind and wonderful" Johnson, who had played Pearl Ladderbanks in Emmerdale since 2003, was announced in a joint statement from her family, talent agency Jorg Betts Associates and the ITV show.It said: "It is with great sadness that we announce that actress Meg Johnson passed away peacefully yesterday evening surrounded by her family."