Pauline Quirke's family have hit out at fake AI images of the actress amid her battle with dementia. 

The Birds of a Feather star, 66, stepped away from the spotlight after being diagnosed with dementia in 2021.

Her loved ones have now taken to Instagram to condemn the creation of AI generated images depicting Pauline in bed with her husband Steve Sheen at her side.

They said the images have caused 'a great deal of sadness' and insisted no one outside of Pauline's family know her current condition.

Alongside the AI pictures, the family wrote on her official Instagram page: 'Please be aware that images and posts currently circulating about Pauline Quirke are AI-generated.

'No one outside of Pauline's family and close friends knows her current condition. Please do not believe or share articles, images, or updates from unofficial sources.

'These false posts cause unnecessary worry and spread a great deal of sadness.'

They added: 'Let's respect Pauline and her family's privacy and rely only on confirmed, official statements. Please share to help stop the spread of misinformation.'

The former Emmerdale star's dementia diagnosis was made public last year but her son Charlie Quirke revealed in November that Pauline was still able to recognise her family.

He told BBC Breakfast: 'My mum knows exactly who we are. Every time she sees all of us, she smiles, laughs, says 'I love you', says 'hello'.'

Pauline's husband Steve explained the they aren't sure exactly where the actress in terms of the dementia - which causes a decline in thinking and memory skills.

He said: 'Unfortunately, we are not in the state where we can do much about it. Just take every day, and try and take the best moment out of that day you can.

'It's so gradual that for the first year, two years, you're thinking, "Ah, she's alright". Now, we're three or four years in, it's a little bit different. This is why awareness is important. 

'We didn't know how long it lasts or how long you have with it, or how bad it is or how quick it is.'

Steve and Charlie revealed their initial 'disbelief' at Pauline's diagnosis.

Steve recalled: 'We looked at each other and went, "No, it can't be. It's long COVID, you've got the flu".'

Charlie added: 'Quite surprised that this was possible in a woman in her 60s, and it can happen to people in their 50s, people in their 40s.

'So it's something that you have to deal with and learn about.'

Back in December Linda Robson shared an emotional update about her friend and former Birds Of A Feather co-star. 

The Loose Women panellist took to BBC Breakfast to open up on the condition of pal Pauline alongside Pauline's son Charlie.

Pauline and Linda, 67, first struck up a close friendship aged ten when they started attending the same theatre school, and later went on to work together on screen. 

The duo first appeared on Pauline's Quirkes in the 1970s, before going on to star side by side in Shine On Harvey Moon, Jobs For The Girls and Birds Of A Feather. 

Linda has been committed to keeping up with their lifelong friendship, revealing on BBC Breakfast that the duo are still meeting up despite Pauline's condition.  

In an emotional update, Linda revealed that the last time she saw her long-term friend, she was 'happy' and 'laughing', and praised her family for 'looking after her really well'. 

Recalling the last time they met up, the actress revealed: 'We met up about three or four weeks ago at a restaurant.

'It was so lovely. She was just giggling, and just really enjoying it, she ate everything as well. I left there happy because she was happy, and I knew they were looking after her really well.'