The BBC has paid tribute to John Cunliffe following his death last week.
The broadcaster has released a statement praising the 'Postman Pat' creator on his work over the past 40 years after it was announced that he had sadly passed away near his home of Ilkley, West Yorkshire, on September 20 at the age of 85.
Director of BBC Children's Alice Webb said in a tribute: "We are saddened to hear the news of John's death.
"'Postman Pat; has been a hugely popular character on the BBC for nearly 40 years and was an absolute favourite from my own childhood.
"Postman Pat's enduring popularity speaks to the genuine charm and warmth that John imbued in the characters that populate Greendale.
"It's a world you'd like to be part of - a community that cares, is full of heart and full of fun - and that is a lovely thing to show audiences, both young and old.
"John created a real and relatable world that will continue to entertain our audience for a long time to come and I count myself lucky to be one of millions of children whose childhoods were enriched by John's creations."
The screenwriter, who also created 'Rosie and Jim', was born in Colne, Lancashire, but later moved to Kendal in Westmoreland - and it was there that he was inspired to create Pat's fictional village Greendale in Longsleddale.
John initially got in touch with the BBC when he applied to be a producer of children's programmes but, although they didn't offer him the job, they did ask him to create a series for young children.
The show he created turned out to be 'Postman Pat', which first aired in 1981, and it has since been shown around the world in different languages.
He said in 2006: "I went back to Kendal, and sat down to create 'Postman Pat' ... and the rest is history!"
Ilkley Gazette announced the news of his death this week, writing: "Left his Ilkley home in a deluge of rain on Thursday, September 20, never to return.
"Even the skies wept for John the gifted creator of 'Postman Pat', 'Rosie and Jim' and author of many earlier published collections of poetry and picture story books for children. John's last poetry collection, significantly entitled 'Dare You Go', has now come to fruition for John has dared to go and he has gone."