EastEnders star Barbara Windsor did not let a leg injury prevent her making a special guest appearance at Rollerworld in Colchester

The actress, who plays Peggy Mitchell in the soap, signed autographs, served drinks behind the bar and chatted to some of the hundreds who turned out to meet her on Saturday night.

Rollerworld's Andy Starr said she had had to cancel her May date at the Eastgates venue due to ill health, and admired her determination not to miss the July date.

"She fell out of bed and hurt her leg. It was really bad and I think she had chipped a bone."

Mr Starr said the actress, voted best actress in the 1999 British Soap Awards, would have been prepared to get on skates herself if she had not been injured.

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