Paddington Bear creator Michael Bond dies at 91

• Video report by ITV News Arts Editor Nina Nannar

Michael Bond, the creator of Paddington Bear has died at the age of 91.

Mr Bond's died at home on Tuesday morning came after a short illness.

"It is with great sadness that we announce that Michael Bond, CBE, the creator of one of Britain's best-loved children's characters, Paddington, died at home yesterday aged 91 following a short illness," Harper Collins, the author's publisher, said.

A Bear Called Paddington was first published in 1958, with the author writing 150 books in total, with 25 additional stories about the marmalade-loving bear from Peru.

Mr Bond said he first came up with the idea of Paddington in 1956 while working as a BBC cameraman.

Ann-Janine Murtagh, executive publisher of HarperCollins Children's Books, said: "I feel privileged to have been Michael Bond's publisher - he was a true gentleman, a bon viveur, the most entertaining company and the most enchanting of writers.

"He will be forever remembered for his creation of the iconic Paddington, with his duffle coat and wellington boots, which touched my own heart as a child and will live on in the hearts of future generations.

"My thoughts and love are with his wife, Sue and his children Karen and Anthony."

As well as the Paddington Bear series, Mr Bond also wrote a children's television series called The Herbs, a series of books about a guinea pig called Olga da Polga - inspired by his own pet - and a string of novels for adults about a French detective called Monsieur Pamplemousse.

He also wrote various other titles including a guide to Paris.

HarperCollins CEO Charlie Redmayne said: "Michael Bond was one of the great children's writers and at HarperCollins we are immensely fortunate to have published him and to have known him. He was a wonderful man and leaves behind one of the great literary legacies of our time."

Celebrities and those who had worked with Mr Bond took to social media to pay tribute to the author.