An Oxford historian accused of being a Russian spy has died age 91.

Jenifer Hart, who was born in 1914, was a fellow in modern history at St Anne's College and known for her liberal principals, serious-mindness and commitment to education for women.

Mrs Hart attended Somerville College, where she was awarded a first class history degree. She joined the Civil Service after her degree and was assigned to the Home Office.

She denied passing any information to the Communist Party and left the party in 1939. Mrs Hart hit the headlines in 1983, after admitting in a television interview that she was asked to spy on the Civil Service.

She married Herbert Hart, a barrister, in 1941 and the couple had four children.

Mrs Hart taught at St Anne's from 1952 until her retirement in 1981, tutoring and lecturing on 19th-century history and politics. She died in Oxford on March 19.

Dame Ruth Deech, a former principal of St Anne's, said: "Jenifer Hart excelled in her civil service and academic careers, and was a pioneer and role model for women at Oxford."