Actor Geoffrey Hughes dies

Helen Worth, who plays Gail McIntyre in Coronation Street, said:

Anne Kirkbride, who plays Deirdre Barlow, tweeted:

Charlie Condou, who plays Marcus Dent in the soap tweeted:

Gavin and Stacey star Mathew Horne also paid tribute to Hughes, tweeting:

Long-serving Coronation Street star William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow in the soap, said:

Geoffrey Hughes's family said he died on Friday night "peacefully in his sleep" after a "long courageous battle" with prostate cancer.

Hughes, known to millions as playing binman Eddie in Coronation Street during the 1970s and 1980s, 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.

The Royal Family actor Ricky Tomlinson paid tribute to his friend, Geoffrey Huges. He said:

A Coronation Street spokesperson added:

For more on this story, visit ITV Granada.

Coronation Street and Keeping up Appearances actor Geoffrey Hughes has died at the age of 68. It follows a battle with prostate cancer. Get more on this story from ITV Granada.