COMIC actor, known for his role in Are You Being Served, John Inman has died.

His friend Tony Hardman paid tribute to Mr Inman: "He was a very dear man, a very nice man and I mean nice in the biggest possibly way."

Mr Inman came to Bournemouth several times during his long career playing the Pier and the Pavilion.

He was here most recently in 2003 where he found time to present some prizes to Bournemouth Bowling Club which was celebrating it centenary year.

Mr Hardman said: "He would always pull out the stops when you asked him to. He did an awful lot for charity particularly the Variety Club.

"I first met John in the 70s when we co-produced a show in Scarborough called Fancy Free, which later came down to the Pavilion."

In Are You Being Served Mr Inman played Mr Humphries famous for the catchphrase I'm free!'.

He said that Mr Inman's camp persona in Are You Being Served was something quite new when he first started doing it.

He said: "There was never any ridicule about him. Every thing he did was in the best possible taste."

Mr Inman was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic thanks to Are You Being Served and the following Grace and Favour.

Mr Inman and his long-term partner Ron Lynch had a civil partnership in December 2005.

Mr Hardman said: "It is very sad that he did not have longer to enjoy that.

"He was a very dedicated, very loveable and very quiet man."

John Inman was born in Preston in 1935 and died in St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London yesterday (Thurs Mar 8) morning.