HI-DE-HI actor Paul Shane - who has died at the age of 72 - fell in love with Bournemouth and talked of buying a hotel there.

Shane made his name playing entertainer Ted Bovis in the 1980s long-running TV series set in a holiday camp.

He died at a hospice in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Thursday after a short illness. He leaves behind his three daughters and six grandchildren. His wife died in 2001.

Shane and the rest of the Hi-De-Hi cast brought their show to Bournemouth for a season in the early 1980s. He also returned to the town to star in a number of pantomimes and was always willing to help charities with their work when in the area.

He was so struck on Bournemouth that he bought a Daimer from Spinks showroom in 1983 and announced that he wanted to settle in the town and buy a hotel.

Fans have been paying tribute to Shane on Twitter. Among them was comedian and actor Ricky Gervais who called him an "old school Britcom hero" and former EastEnders actor Shaun Williamson, who wrote "RIP Comedy Legend".

Austin Powers star Mike Myers wrote: "R.I.P Paul Shane. Great British Comic, actor and talent. Rest in peace sir."

Away from his Hi-de-Hi fame, Shane also worked on 1990s BBC sitcom Oh Doctor Beeching!, Emmerdale, Common as Muck, A Touch of Frost, Doctors and Holby City.