Michael Bond, the creator of Paddington Bear, has died at the age of 91.
In a statement, his publisher HarperCollins confirmed the author had died on Tuesday following a short illness.
Today is a very sad day. Michael Bond CBE will be missed by many. pic.twitter.com/ZoCb5sU2V9
— Paddington (@paddingtonbear) June 28, 2017
The character, a bear from Peru who comes to live in London, went on to inspire a series of books, an animated TV series and a successful 2014 film.
Bond published his first book, A Bear Called Paddington, in 1958. Over eight decades, Bond wrote over 200 Paddington Bear titles.
He also wrote a selection of books about a guinea pig called Olga the Polga, as well as a French detective series centering on Monsieur Pamplemousse.
On writing, Bond previously told The Telegraph: “Every day, I come down in the morning and write. I work a seven-day week. I just press a button and there are words on the screen and off I go."
In the same interview, Bond spoke of his close relationship with his fictional furry friend.
“He’s always with me,” gestures Bond, with cheery affection to a sort of four-foot high space next to him. “I know just what he’s thinking. To me he’s very real.”
Image: PA/PA Wire/PA Images