Cilla Black's body arrives in the UK ahead of funeral

Cilla Black's body has been flown back to the UK, almost one week after she died at her Spanish home.

The 72-year-old died of a stroke after falling over at her Spanish home on Saturday (1 August) last week.

Her publicist confirmed that the coffin of the TV star was put on a Thomson Airways flight at Malaga Airport just before 11am for the journey back to the UK.

According to the Mail Online a source close to the case said: "Cilla Black's body was flown back to the UK this morning. She was repatriated on an Air Berlin-operated flight which left Malaga at 10.50am local time and touched down at Gatwick at 12.30pm.

"It was a normal passenger plane with a larger-than-normal cargo area for the special cargo it was carrying apart from peoples' luggage.

Another insider said: "Cilla's body was embalmed and dressed before the flight. She was taken directly from the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Malaga where the post-mortem took place on Sunday to Malaga Airport.

"The coffin had a zinc casing inside it which is a health and safety prerequisite for bodies taken on flights."

The entertainer's body was received by undertakers at Gatwick Airport. Her sons Robert, 45, Ben, 41, and Jack, 35, who described their devastation at her loss, are due to travel back to the UK tomorrow. (8 August)

In a statement released on Tuesday, (2 August) Cilla's sons said: "We are devastated by the sad loss of our mother, but have been deeply touched by all the kind messages of support from her friends, fans, the public and media.

"We would like to thank everyone, especially the people of Liverpool. The tributes and condolences have really helped us through these difficult times.

"The Spanish authorities have now told us we are able to bring Mum home, which we hope to do as quickly as possible. We would also like to thank all those involved for their assistance with this matter. 'We respectfully request for our continued privacy to grieve."

Black is believed to have been sunbathing at her villa in Estepona when she stood up and lost her balance. She hit her head when she fell and was left unconscious. She had been lying unconscious for four hours before she was discovered by her son who broke the door down to reach her. Paramedics were unable to thing to save her when they arrived at 6.10pm.

A ten-page autopsy report into her death said she suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage - a rare form of stroke caused by bleeding on the surface of the brain. They said heatstroke had also contributed to her death.

No details of Black's funeral have yet been made public, but it is expected to be held next week at St Mary the Virgin Church, in Denham, Buckinghamshire, at the same church where her husband Bobby's funeral service was held at in 1999 after he died of cancer.