Heartbeat's Hughes "will be greatly missed."

Geoffrey Hughes most famously played Coronation Street binman Eddie Yates Credit: ITV Granada

Heartbeat actor Geoffrey Hughes has died aged 68, his agent said.

The star, who played Vernon Scripps in the ITV Yorkshire series, died last night "peacefully in his sleep" after a "long courageous battle" with prostate cancer, according to his family.

Hughes will be best remembered for his role as Coronation Street binman Eddie Yates, but also played Twiggy in The Royle Family and Onslow in Keeping Up Appearances.

Hughes was rushed to hospital for intense radiotherapy in 2010 after collapsing at his Isle of Wight home.

The actor had thought he had beaten prostate cancer the previous year, but the star and his wife Sue were given the news the disease had returned.

Hughes, who publicly supported cancer charities, first appeared in 1960s classics such as Z-Cars and The Likely Lads and was the voice of Paul McCartney in the Beatles film The Yellow Submarine.

Other roles included Uncle Keith in teen drama Skins, as well as guest-starring in episodes of Doctor Who, Casualty, Boon and The Upper Hand.

In 2009 he was appointed Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the Isle of Wight, making him "the official link between the island and royalty at formal engagements".