The death of Dad's Army co-writer David Croft has left a gap in the lives of fans across Norfolk, particularly in Thetford where a museum was established in honour of the comedy.

Mr Croft, whose classic comedies also included 'Allo 'Allo and Hi-de-Hi, died at the age of 89 in his sleep at his home in Portugal, his family announced today (Tuesday).

'He was a truly great man, who will be missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing and loving him,' they said in a statement.

'We know that he would have been proud that you had all been watching.'

Mr Croft's long-running partnership with Jimmy Perry spawned Dad's Army, arguably the most successful British sitcom of all time which originally aired between 1968 and 1977.

It remains one of BBC2's most popular shows today.

Many of the most memorable scenes of Dad's Army were shot on location in and around Thetford and a museum was set up in 2007 dedicated to the much-loved series. A bronze statue of Captain Mainwaring was also unveiled by Mr Croft last year as a permanent reminder of the series' links to the town.

Manager of Thetford's Dad's Army Museum, Corinne Fulford, said she felt she had 'lost a friend'.

'It's a great shock to us,' she added. 'He was a great and lovely man. We're so grateful he got to open the statue and I think that was a special one from his perspective too because it was the last time they all got together. 'He visited the museum on numerous occasions and was always so accessible for the fans of the show - he never stopped signing autographs. He was always so supportive.

'Nobody had a bad word to say about him.'

Chairman of Thetford's Dad's Army Museum, Stuart Wright, said: 'He's been part of the story for so long.

'The few times I met him he was a very pleasant and very interesting man. He was a man of few words but he knew his mind and was very keen Thetford should be recognised at Walmington-on-Sea. His death is another part of the story which closes.

'David was one who said the jokes were 20-years-old when they were written so if they they were funny then, they would survive. I always remember that when I think of him.'

See tomorrow's paper for further tributes to Mr Croft.

Did you meet David Croft? Email your memories to rebecca.gough@archant.co.uk, or call 01362 854714.