Joy Beverley’s family has paid tribute to “the most wonderful woman” after the singer died at the age of 91.

Her daughter Vicky said: “She was the most wonderful woman and inspiration, a wonderful mother and an unbelievable icon.

“We’re going to miss her desperately but she’s with our dad which is where she would want to be now. They loved each other so very much and she’s missed him so.”

Beverley, one of the three members of 1950s group the Beverley Sisters, is believed to have died on Monday after she reportedly suffered a stroke last week.

She was married to Wolverhampton Wanderers and England captain Billy Wright, and they were described as the Posh and Becks of the day.

Wright was the world’s first footballer to notch up 100 caps, and he led England as captain 90 times. He died of pancreatic cancer in 1994.

Joy was the oldest of the Beverley Sisters. The other two – Teddie and Babs – were twins, born in 1927.

Born in Bethnal Green, east London, the girls seemed destined to have a career in music. Their parents George and Victoria Beverley performed as a music hall duo.

During the Second World War, the sisters starred as “Bonnie Babies” in Ovaltine adverts.

Their status as celebrities blossomed and they landed their own TV show, Three Little Girls In View, which was later renamed Those Beverley Sisters.

Columbia Records signed them in 1951 and their contract made them the highest paid female act of their time.

Their hits included I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Bye Bye Love and Always And Forever.

Beverley married Wright in 1958 at Poole Register Office and they stayed married until his death.

The Beverley Sisters appeared in the 2002 Guinness Book of Records as the world's longest surviving vocal group without a change in line-up. They performed for the Queen and were made MBEs for services to music.

Beverley is survived by her sisters and her three children Vince, Vicky and Babette.