Ken Barrie, the voice of Postman Pat, dies at the age of 83

Ken Barrie, the voice of children's TV show Postman Pat, has died at the age of 83.

Barrie, who was born Leslie Hulme, provided the voice for Pat and many of the other characters in the animated series, as well as the famous jingle.

His daughter Lorraine Peterson told the Press Association he died peacefully at home in Denham, Buckinghamshire of liver cancer.

Barrie also had a successful singing career, performing on an album with Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby and on jingles for Smash and Martini.

Barrie lent his voice to 31 episodes of Postman Pat between 1981 and 2005, as the narrator, the famous postman and other characters. He also worked on Postman Pat: Special Delivery Service in 2008.

He also appeared in TV drama Centre Play and Christmas Eve With Val Doonican and later topped the charts as part of Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band on the Official BBC Children in Need Medley in 2009.