Tributes have been paid to the influential editor of classic British football comic Roy of the Rovers following his death.

Barrie Tomlinson died aged 88 on Tuesday, earlier this week, his daughter Jennifer confirmed.

Posting from legendary comics X account, she said: “Hi everyone, this is Jen, Barrie’s daughter.

“I’m very sorry to share the news that Barrie passed away yesterday.

“He loved interacting on X with you all and making the contacts that he has.

“He thought of many of you as friends. He asked me to let you know.”

Barrie, who was born and lived most of his life in St Albans, Hertfordshire, is best known for his character Roy Race, a fictional football character who first appeared in the title Tiger in 1954.

But it was Barrie who was influential in Roy’s development, contributing to the character receiving his standalone title Roy of the Rovers – becoming its founding editor – until its closure in February 1993.

Roy had his own strip, which featured in the BBC’s Match of the Day magazine until its closure in 2001.

Floods have tributes have poured in following the announcement of his death.

Hibernia comics described him as a “master of publicity, and a comic writer of some skill.”

Treasury of British Comics said: “Probably one of the most successful editors of his time, Barrie combined a deep knowledge of and passion for comics with a salesman’s eye for publicity.

“Thanks to him, Roy of the Rovers remains a household name while generations of readers have been thrilled, educated, and scared in equal measure by titles he launched and championed.”