Tributes are being paid to the actor and Isle of Wight resident Geoffrey Hughes who has died aged 68.

The Coronation Street legend, who was also known to millions of TV viewers as vest-wearing layabout Onslow in the popular TV series Keeping Up Appearances, lost a lengthy battle with cancer.

He had lived for the past ten years on the Isle of Wight where he devoted his time to working as a full-time forester providing wood fuel eco-heating for HMP Isle of Wight.

The star, famed for his role as Coronation Street binman Eddie Yates during the 1970s and 1980s, died ''peacefully in his sleep'' after a ''long courageous battle'' with prostate cancer, his family said.

Hughes also played Twiggy in TV comedy The Royle Family and notched up dozens of appearances on stage.

He 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.

Hughes, who publicly supported cancer charities, first appeared in 1960s classics such as Z-Cars and The Likely Lads and was the voice of Paul McCartney in the Beatles film The Yellow Submarine.

Other roles included Vernon in Heartbeat and Uncle Keith in teen drama Skins.

Hughes also guest-starred in episodes of Doctor Who, Casualty, Boon and The Upper Hand and left Coronation Street in 1984.

In 2009 he was appointed Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the Isle of Wight, making him ''the official link between the island and royalty at formal engagements''.

A Coronation Street spokeswoman said: ''We are very sad to hear of the death of .

''He created a legendary and iconic character in Eddie Yates who will always be part of Coronation Street.

''Everyone connected with the programme send our sincerest condolences to his family.''

Anne Kirkbride, who plays Deirdre Barlow, tweeted: ''The rainbow must have been for him. RIP Geoff. Really sad xx'' while Sally Lindsay, who played barmaid Shelley Unwin in Corrie, wrote: ''just found out £Geoff Hughes has died 1st telly job was playing Twiggys girlfriend in The Royle Family, and he was so kind RIP lovely man x''

Charlie Condou, who plays Marcus Dent in the soap wrote: ''The wonderful (Eddie Yates) has lost his battle with cancer. RIP and thanks for all the laughs x''.

Gavin and Stacey star Mathew Horne also paid tribute to Hughes, tweeting: ''Sad to hear of passing. Onslow was the original LAD.''