Margaret Thatcher hospitalised, but stable

Former British Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher is in hospital.

Lady Thatcher has suffered previous bouts of ill health in a series of strokes in 2005. She was then advised by doctors to refrain from making public speeches.

Thatcher, 82, was admitted to the St Thomas' Hospital in central London on Friday night and is undergoing medical checks, a spokeswoman of the hospital said on Saturday.

"Baroness Thatcher has remained stable overnight and we have nothing further to add at this stage," the spokeswoman said.

In one of her rare public appearances, Thatcher recently visited 10, Downing Street, at the invitation of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has often described her as a 'conviction politician'.

Nicknamed 'the Iron Lady', Thatcher was Britain's first female prime minister, who served for 11 years before being ousted as her party's leader in 1990.

She was also the first leader to win three elections in a row.