Dame Stella Rimington, the first female director general of MI5, has died

Dame Stella Rimington, who was the first female director general of MI5, has died, her family has announced.

She died “surrounded by her beloved family and dogs and determinedly held on to the life she loved until her last breath”.

Dame Stella, who was also an author, died at the age of 90.

She is widely credited as the inspiration for Dame Judi Dench’s M in the James Bond films.

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