The popular Swedish children's writer Astrid Lindgren has died peacefully aged 94 in her home in Stockholm.  The whole world's queen of fairy tales is dead but her popular characters, for example Pippi Longstocking, Karlsson on the Roof, Emil, Mio my son and The Brothers Lionheart, will live on.

Her works ­ including novels, short stories, plays, song books and poetry - has been translated into about 80 languages, and has sold over 100 million copies. About 50 films based on her novels have been made.

Astrid Lindgren is one of the most popular children's writers, both in Sweden and in the world, and during her lifetime she was awarded dozens of international prizes for her work, among them the prestigious H.C. Andersen medal in 1958. Several times she was voted the most popular person in Sweden and also the most admired and popular person of the twentieth century.

She also used her writing skills to voice political concerns. In 1976 she wrote an article that criticised tax legislation in Sweden. The article was called "Pomperipossa in the world of money", and it helped change the law.

Throughout her life she was a staunch defender of children's rights and animal welfare.

In 1998 Astrid Lindgren's Children Hospital was opened, named in her honour. It is one of the biggest children hospitals in northern Europe.