Soap Opera star Gwyneth Guthrie - known to millions as Mrs Mack from Take the High Road - has died at the age of 84. 

Ms Guthrie's family said this morning that the Ayrshire-born actress had passed away on Tuesday surrounded by her loved ones. 

They said: "It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our amazing mum, Gwyneth Guthrie. She passed peacefully on Tuesday the 9th of November, at home and surrounded by her loving family. She will be playing to her next audience in Heaven.”

Born in Ayr in 1937, Guthrie was raised by her bank manager dad Jim and mum Enid along with little sister Anne.

Glasgow Times:

Mrs Mack 

After qualifying from Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama she became a stage and radio actress.

In 1983 she landed the role that turned her from being a jobbing actress into one of TV’s most formidable and memorable soap characters — Mrs Mack, and played the role for 20 years.

Take The High Road was set in the fictional village of Glendarroch but filmed in Luss on the banks of Loch Lomond.

The soap ran for 23 years from 1980 on Scottish Television and last year episodes started being uploaded to the STV Player.

Her family said: “It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of our amazing mum, Gwyneth Guthrie.

“She passed peacefully on Tuesday November 9, at home and surrounded by her loving family.

“She will be playing to her next audience in heaven.”

Take The High Road was set in the fictional village of Glendarroch but filmed in Luss on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Bobby Hain, managing director of broadcast at STV, paid tribute to Ms Guthrie.

He said: “We at STV are so saddened to hear the news about Gwyneth Guthrie.

“For 20 years, Gwyneth played the iconic character of Mrs Mack in Take the High Road, bringing her own wonderful comic timing and dramatic flair which made her beloved across the UK.