A veteran actor famous for playing a Dam Buster hero has died at the age of 90.

Richard Todd, who lived near Grantham, passed away after succumbing to cancer.

The former Hollywood star has been praised for battling the illness with "courage and dignity" by those close to him.

His spokesman said in a statement: "He had been suffering from cancer, an illness that he bore with his habitual courage and dignity. His family were with him throughout."

Todd was best known for his role as Wing Commander Guy Gibson in the classic 1955 war film The Dam Busters.

The movie – based on daring raids on the Ruhr dams by RAF Scampton-based 617 Squadron – shot the actor and former paratrooper to fame.

Todd was well-placed to play the famous wing commander, after being one of the first British officers to land in Normandy on the day of the Allied invasion.

Manager of the Petwood Hotel in Woodhall Spa Tony Woodrow, where the Dambusters Association still meets, said his death is a real blow.

"He was a wonderful man and came as a guest of 617 Squadron many times over the years," he said.

"I remember hearing him speak and he held the whole room spellbound. It is a very sad loss and our thoughts are with the family."

In his prime, Todd was one of the biggest box-office draws of the British cinema.

Todd died on Thursday night.

For more tributes, see Saturday's Echo.