TRIBUTES have been paid to North Yorkshire writer David Nobbs, who has died at the age of 80.

Mr Nobbs, who lived in Harrogate and formerly Burton Leonard, was best known for creating The Fall And Rise Of Reginald Perrin, which was turned into a BBC sitcom starring Leonard Rossiter in the 1970s, but had also written for The Two Ronnies, Ken Dodd, Tommy Cooper and Frankie Howerd. He had also written 20 novels.

Comedians have already taken to social media to pay tribute to Mr Nobbs, including Stephen Fry, who said he was "such a brilliant comic writer and such a kind, wise man".

John Cleese posted on Twitter: "Very sad today to hear of the death of David Nobbs. First worked with him on the Frost Report in 1966... a lovely kind, gentle man with a delicious sense of humour."

Mr Nobbs was born in Orpington, Kent and educated at Cambridge, and worked as a journalist for the Sheffield star. He later called himself the "world's worst newspaper reporter".

Mr Nobbs was also a patron of the British Humanist Association, and is survived by his wife, Susan, four stepchildren, eight step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.

Chief executive of the BHA Andrew Copson said: "David Nobbs had a special talent and we were all honoured to have worked with him over his years as a patron of the BHA.

"He was a British humourist in the best tradition: strong characters, warm wit, great fun, and deep understanding of human frailty."