MOLLY Weir, one of Scot-land's most famous and beloved actresses, has died at the age of 94.

In addition to her acting credits, she also delighted fans with an evocative series of memoirs about her Glasgow childhood.

The sister of fellow broadcaster and naturalist, Tom Weir, she passed away in her sleep at a Middlesex nursing home on Sunday.

She was known to generations for her energy, charm and wit. Only 4ft 10ins, she created many successful roles in television, radio and film, and to younger generations she was perhaps best known as Hazel the McWitch in the children's serial, Rentaghost.

On radio, she rose to fame during the second world war as Tattie Macintosh in the ground-breaking BBC comedy It's that Man Again, better known by its acronym ITMA, with Tommy Handley.

She went on to play Ivy McTweed in The McFlannels and the Lyons's housekeeper, Aggie MacDonald, in Life with the Lyons (1951-1955). She later worked on the TV version of the famous BBC Radio series.

Other television roles included Nurse Forbes in Visiting Day (1962), Mary's mother in Bless This House (1972), and the professor in The High Life! (1992).

She has many film credits to her name. Her parts have included Mrs Matthews in Value for Money (1955), Miss Alison Kerr in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), Bird Woman in Carry on Regardless (1961), and a debtor in Scrooge (1970).

Last night her sister-in-law, Rhona Weir, said her ashes will be buried on the banks of Loch Lomond, a favourite holiday destination, after a funeral service in England.

Mrs Weir, who is married to the actress's brother, said Mr Weir, 90, had taken news of her death ''philosophically''.

She said: ''He said, 'We are all going to die sometime.' Tom took it in his stride. I wouldn't say he is really sad because she had a really good and long life.''

Mrs Weir said her sister-in-law had been devoted to her husband, Sandy, who died some years ago.

''She was full of life. I never heard her say a bad word about anyone. She was a charming character in many, ways. If you were with her, you knew she was there. She was a very positive person, very bubbly and a great talker.

''She's had a great life, a very happy life and a good marriage. She married the man she loved and was with him all her life.''

Ken MacQuarrie, the controller of BBC Scotland, said: ''We won't see her like again.''

Molly Weir had many talents: she was a skilled impersonator, and before she took to the stage she was declared the fastest shorthand typist in Britain.

She also made her mark as a writer. Her first piece was published by The Herald's sister paper, the Evening Times, when she was 15.

Her books such as Shoes Were For Sunday, Best Foot Forward and A Toe on the Ladder, detailed her childhood.

She contributed to Radio 4's Woman's Hour as well as Children's Hour, and was in demand for commercials and voiceovers.

The actress was once offered roles in One Foot in the Grave, she recently recalled, but added: ''One of the parts I didn't get was because they wanted someone a bit dull - and they reckoned I was too vivacious!''

Born in 1910, Molly, real name Mary, was the eldest child of her family.

Their mother and grandmother raised Molly and her brothers in Springburn, Glasgow after their father died in the first world war.

She started working life as a shorthand typist, in which she was renowned for her speed, but after a period acting in the amateur and professional theatre in Scotland she was spotted doing impersonations of Gracie Fields and Marlene Dietrich by the radio talent show host, Carol Levis.

Weir moved to London in 1945 with an 18-month West End run in The Happiest Days of Your Life and her career blossomed.

She married Sandy Hamilton and maintained strong links with Scotland. Until recently she would spend a May holiday every year near her brother's home by Loch Lomond.

In recent years, after a bad fall at her home in England, she lived in a nursing home. She had no children.

Mr MacQuarrie added: ''Molly Weir was a tremendously versatile actress and writer who appeared in a wide variety of roles on TV, radio and theatre over a long number of years.

''She was a real one-off who contributed in so many different ways to broadcasting in Scotland.''

Johnny Beattie, an actor and entertainer who knew her well, added: ''She was such a multi-talented person and she brought a lot of pleasure to a lot of people.

''What you saw with Molly was what you got: she was a lovely person and will be sorely missed.''