MORSE CREATOR DIES

INSPECTOR Morse author Colin Dexter died yesterday, aged 86.

A statement from his publisher said: “With immense sadness, Macmillan announces the death of Colin Dexter, who died peacefully at home in Oxford this morning.”

He was best known for penning the crime novels, which spawned the long-running TV series Inspector Morse and spin-offs Endeavour and Lewis.

Dexter’s cerebral detective was first introduced in 1975 in his novel Last Bus To Woodstock and appeared in more than 10 other novels, as well as several short stories.

The author was known for making cameo appearances in the ITV drama series, which starred John Thaw.

Dexter was made an OBE for services to literature in 2000.

At the time, he said he would have liked to think his fictional detective would have bought him a celebratory whisky if he had been alive, but added: “Knowing him I doubt he would’ve done.”