Image caption Roxy (Rita Simons, left) and Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack) arrived in Walford in 2007

EastEnders actress Rita Simons, who plays Roxy Mitchell, is to leave the BBC One soap after nine years.

A statement said she would join on-screen sister Ronnie (Samantha Womack) in "an unmissable exit" from the show.

Simons and Womack have played the Mitchell sisters since 2007. It was revealed last week that Womack would say goodbye to Albert Square next year.

Producers said the pair had "created one of the most iconic duos EastEnders has ever seen".

The statement said: "Alongside Samantha, Rita was recently offered to take part in the same big storyline that will see the Mitchell sisters depart Walford.

"We're keeping details of what's in store firmly under wraps for now, but there are still lots of twists to come before they leave our screens."

In May, Dame Barbara Windsor said her final farewell to EastEnders with her character Peggy Mitchell taking her own life in a controversial departure.