TRIBUTES have been paid to eccentric British director Ken Russell, who has died aged 84.

Regularly described as the enfant terrible of the movie world, the Hampshire-born director died in hospital on Sunday, his son Alex said.

Russell, who was born in Southampton, lived for many years in the New Forest and was frequently seen at events there.

His widow Elize (Lisi) said she was “devastated” by her husband's death, which had been “completely unexpected”.

She said: “It is with great sadness that I can confirm that Ken Russell passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday afternoon.

“It was completely unexpected, as he was doing what he loved.

“He had recently agreed to direct the feature film Alice In Wonderland The Musical and he was working on the script and casting of that.”

The controversial Woman in Love director became fascinated by film as a child, but went on to study at nautical college, before entering the merchant navy.

However, after the Second World War he trained and toured as a dancer before deciding his talents lay elsewhere, dabbling with photography before embracing film-making.

Russell first gained his reputation for his television work before establishing a successful if not sometimes controversial film career with movies including The Devils, Women in Love and Valentino, which was partly filmed at Bournemouth’s Russell-Cotes museum.

He also won acclaim for his adaptation of the Broadway hit The Boy Friend starring Twiggy and four years later brought to life The Who's rock opera Tommy.

Film director Michael Winner said he made a “unique” contribution to British film-making.

And Glenda Jackson, who won an Oscar for her role in Russell's 1969 film Women In Love, said Russell's work would have a lasting legacy.

She said: “I think of Ken Russell with great love and affection. It was not only a privilege to know him as a film director but also a privilege to be his friend.”

The veteran director spent childhood summers in Highcliffe, until a family tragedy struck in 1940 when his cousin Marian was killed in a mine explosion.

In his autobiography, A British Picture, he described the village as “no great shakes, being little more than a row of shops either side of the Bournemouth Road”.

His family stayed in rented bungalows in the 40 acre field on Naish’s farm, with Russell describing it as their “weekend haven for six months of the year”.

And in his final TV interview filmed in August for Sky Arts he told how he was haunted by the childhood memory of seeing Marian “blown to pieces”.

In the interview he said: “We were both sharing a land adventure. She just trod on this high explosive that just blew her apart and it was tragic.

“There was nothing I could do – that was the end of her. She was blown to pieces.”

Russell said he suspected it affected his film-making: “I think it did. It was something I couldn’t get out of my mind and it remained with me forever.”

He's also the man who proudly declared himself a “fete virgin” as he performed the honours at Hordle Village Fair in 2005, cheerily claiming they only asked him to open it because all the other Hampshire celebrities were ex-directory.

In 2006, Russell and his fourth wife, Elise, lost almost everything when their home at East Boldre burned down.

He was at a doctor’s appointment when the fire at the 16th century cottage began, while she was in the bath.

As well as his home and belongings, he also lost work on a number of ongoing projects.

Perhaps one of the most unlikely chapters of his career was a stint in the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2007.

He lasted just four days, driven out in the wake of a row about contestants having to wait on Jade Goody and her family.

And in 2009 the veteran filmmaker was spotted at an amateur version of The Boy Friend in New Milton, much to the surprise of the New Forest Players , putting on the show.

Over the years the flamboyant director has also re-launched a holistic centre in Boscombe as well as opening the Marks and Spencer food store in Lymington.