The creator of long-running British soap opera 'Coronation Street' Tony Warren has died aged 79.

A statement from broadcaster ITV says he passed away peacefully last night after a short illness.

He devised the idea for the Weatherfield soap at the age of 24, at the very beginning of his writing career.

Born Anthony McVay Simpson in Manchester, he was a regular visitor to the soap's set and caught up with the cast and crew during breaks in filming.

He also acted in many radio plays and performed with the actors who were later to become household names in 'Coronation Street' - most notably Violet Carson and Doris Speed.

In 1960, his initial scripts for 'Coronation Street' were commissioned by Granada Television for ITV - and he went on to write the first 13 episodes of the programme.

He continued to write scripts on a full-time basis until 1968 - and then to write other television dramas.

He also went on to craft several critically acclaimed novels in the 1990s.

Tony Warren on the 'Coronation Street' set in 1985 | Image: ITV

John Whiston, creative director of soaps for ITV Studios, said: "Amid the many and much deserved tributes to Tony Warren, surely there can be no greater tribute than that the show he created 56 years ago is still the number one show on British TV".

"Tony infused Coronation Street with his own spirit, one that was at the same time dramatic and credible, exciting and grounded, funny and humane".

"It is Tony's spirit that has kept the show fresh and relevant all these years and will do for years to come. All who are lucky enough to work on the show owe Tony a huge amount of gratitude. As do all the millions who tune into Coronation Street week after week", he added.

Actor William Roache, who has worked with Warren since Coronation Street's first episode, said: "When I first met Tony I couldn’t quite believe he’d created and written Coronation Street because he was no more than a young boy".

"It was his boyish energy even recently when I saw him again that I’ll remember. I loved Tony’s energy".

"He was the father of Coronation Street and he gave us all so much. He will be so desperately missed because of who he was and what he did. We owe him so much," he added.

Tony is survived by his cousin Roy, and his friends and colleagues at 'Coronation Street'.