Barbara Windsor is to be awarded the Working Title Films Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2003 Five Women in Film and Television Awards (WFTV).

The annual awards ceremony celebrates the achievements of women in all aspects of the British film and television industry and will be held on the Dec 5 at the Hilton Hotel, London.

Barbara Windsor will be at the ceremony to receive her lifetime achievement award.

The WFTV board of directors, who nominated Windsor for the award, cited her extensive career spanning 50 years on both the big and small screen as the basis for her win.

Windsor has portrayed Peggy Mitchell in soap opera EastEnders for the past 10 years. She is also best known for her memorable appearances in ten of the Carry On films as well as films including Sparrows Can't Sing, for which she was nominated for a Best Actress BAFTA, and Ken Russell's acclaimed musical The Boyfriend.

Jane Cussons, chief executive of WFTV, said: 'The longevity and diversity of Barbara's career over the last 50 years is what makes her so unique. She has defied typecasting to be a star of film, musical, theatre and television and her enduring appeal has made her a true national icon."

Barbara Windsor said: 'I am thrilled and delighted to receive this prestigious award.'

UK broadcaster Five is the title sponsor of the WFTV awards ceremony at which a total of ten awards will be presented.