EastEnders actress Kim Medcalf has been airlifted back to the UK following a car accident in France last Saturday.

The star, who plays Sam Mitchell in the BBC soap, was taken straight to hospital in London.

She is expected to be unable to return to work for a further month, causing problems for producers, who had originally only given her two weeks holiday.

A BBC spokeswoman said cast members would be visiting her over the next fortnight. "The main priority is that she gets better and doesn't even think of returning to work until she's recovered," she added.

Medcalf joined EastEnders in January this year, replacing Danniella Westbrook.