First And Only British Female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher Dies At 87

Baroness Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first and only female Prime Minister has died after suffering a stroke at the age of 87.

Her children Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother had died peacefully following a stroke this morning.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, paid tribute saying: "It is with great sadness that I learned of Lady Thatcher's death. We've lost a great leader, a great Prime Minister and a great Briton."

A statement from Buckingham Palace said: "The Queen was sad to hear the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher. Her Majesty will be sending a private message of sympathy to the family."

Baroness Thatcher, who was prime minister between 1979 and 1990, has been credited with transforming a nation in one decade, putting Britain back among the leading industrial nations of the world.