ACTOR Lynda Bellingham said she was "in a good place" after making public her decision to end chemotherapy within a few weeks

ACTOR Lynda Bellingham said she was "in a good place" after making public her decision to end chemotherapy within a few weeks

The 66-year-old star, best known for her long-running role as a mother in the Oxo TV adverts, has been battling colon cancer, which later spread to her lungs and liver, since being diagnosed in July last year.

The actress sent a message to her old colleagues on ITV's Loose Women thanking them - and viewers - for their support.

"You have no idea how much it means to me. But please understand I am in a good place. It is essential to feel you have some control of your life," she said.

Her decision to end her treatment was revealed in a newspaper serialisation of her autobiography. She has said she would like to see one last Christmas.

In her message to the programme today, she went on: "Grasp it all, don't be afraid, enjoy the bits you can and tell your family you love them while you have the chance. Again thank you for all the years of support you have given me."

Bellingham emailed and sent a text message to the programme but was unable to phone in as the presenters had hoped because she was receiving treatment at the time of the show's broadcast, saying she was in her "chemo chair, sucking up the drugs".

One of the daytime show's co-hosts Coleen Nolan said: "Lynda is still being Lynda. Her texts are so funny and dry humoured. You can't help but respond to that, she's still very upbeat. She's a fantastic lady."