Author Jack Higgins dies aged 92 at his home in Jersey

Author Henry Patterson has died in Jersey at the age of 92.

Known to many by his pseudonym Jack Higgins, the novelist sold over 250 million copies worldwide with his 85 books translated into over 50 languages.

Higgins' most famous work, The Eagle has Landed, sold over 50 million copies and was later adapted into a 1976 film staring Robert Duvall and Sir Michael Caine.

Higgins was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1929 before moving to Belfast.

He died at home in Jersey surrounded by his family.

The author is survived by his four children Sarah, Ruth, Sean and Hannah and wife Denise.

Charlie Redmayne from publisher HarperCollins said: "I've been a fan of Jack Higgins for longer than I can remember. He was a classic thriller writer: instinctive, tough, relentless.

"The Eagle Has Landed and his other Liam Devlin books, his later Sean Dillon series, and so many others were and remain absolutely unputdownable.

"Being part of his publishing for even part of his career has been a privilege , his passing marks the end of an era."