ONE of the best-known names on the North Kent showbusiness scene for more than 60 year has died, aged 78.

Mary Underwood, who lived at West Kingsdown, near Brands Hatch, ran the City Way Stage School in Rochester for 46 years.

More recently, she ran the Mary Underwood Fame Agency, which had pupils from across the county.

Despite being disabled, she also ran an academy for youngsters in Meopham Village Hall and held dance workshops at West Kingsdown church hall.

She began treading the boards at the age of three in Gillingham and had seven decades in showbusiness as a singer, dancer and teacher.

At just 16, she started her own dance school, the Peter Pan Starlets.

One of Mary Underwood's six children, Jenny Port, from Gravesend, said: "My mum was an icon of the theatre and dance business. She really gave her all to the children she taught and wouldn't stop until she got them to the Palladium.

"Quite often if she saw talent, she would teach them for nothing. She knew and helped so many children reach their goals, they will all be sad to hear she had passed away.

"Mum's death was very unexpected and we are all still very shocked by what happened. It's all very sad."