Michael Bond, the creator of children's literary character Paddington Bear, has died aged 91 following a short illness, publisher HarperCollins says.
Bond died at home in the UK on Tuesday.
Born in Newbury in 1926, Bond began his career at the BBC. He was inspired to create Paddington after seeing a teddy bear in a shop window on his way home from work in 1956.
First appearing in the 1958 story "A Bear called Paddington", the character was named after the London railway station where he was found, having arrived from "deepest, darkest Peru" according to Bond's famous description.
The bear was wearing a tag around his neck that read "Please look after this bear".
He has been enjoyed by generations of children, with more than 35 million books sold, the publisher said.
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."
Ann-Janine Murtagh, executive publisher of HarperCollins Children's Books, said the duffel-coated, Wellington boot-wearing bear "touched my own heart as a child and will live on in the hearts of future generations."
Bond wrote 150 books, with 25 additional books about the bear loves marmalade following his first effort.
A film based on the character was released in 2014 to critical and commercial success.
Tributes have started pouring in for Bond following the news of his death.
Stephen Fry tweeted: "So sorry to hear that Michael Bond has departed. He was as kindly, dignified, charming & lovable as the immortal Paddington Bear he gave us."
Comedian and TV star David Walliams wrote: "I had the great pleasure of spending time with #MichaelBond A dazzling wit & perfect gentleman.
"On meeting him I realised he was #Paddington."
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