Author William McIlvanney dies aged 79

William McIlvanney was known as the so-called "Godfather of Tartan Noir" Credit: PA

Scottish-born author William McIlvanney has died at the age of 79.

McIlvanney who penned the 'Laidlaw' trilogy reportedly suffered from a short illness before he died peacefully at his home in Glasgow on Saturday.

Originally from Kilmarnock the former English teacher became a full-time author in 1975 quickly gaining recognition for his so-called "Tartan Noir" style works including the titles Docherty, The Big Man and The Kiln.

During his career McIlvanney won a number of awards, including the Whitbread Prize, the Crime Writers' Association's Silver Dagger, the Saltire Award and the Glasgow Herald People's Prize but earlier this year he confessed he still wanted to write "three or four new things" before the end of his career.

Speaking at a screening of a documentary about his life a few months ago, McIlvanney said: "I get shifty when I talk about it but there are three or four things I'd like to write before I 'cash in', but whether I will or not I don't know.

"I write from compulsion, I have to generate a compulsion, I have probably four ideas that matter to me very much and I hope to realise them, but if you're a betting man don't put a bet on it, just wait and see what happens."

Tributes were paid to the author on Twitter, including from Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon: