Tributes have been paid to actor Ian Lavender, who has died aged aged 77.

Lavender was best known for playing scraf-wearing mummy's boy Private Pike in the long-running BBC sitcom Dad's Army. He appeared in the 1973 episode, The Deadly Attachment, where the platoon has to guard some German prisoners. This includes the famous scene with Captain Mainwaring where he sings a song mocking the Germans and the German U boat POW, played by Phillip Madoc, threatens to put his name in his book but doesn't know his name. Mainwaring, payed by Arthur Lowe famously advises him to keep his name secret: "Don't tell him, Pike". Ever since then the phrase - not actually his catchphrase was shouted at him in the street.

Lavender was the last surviving member of the main cast.. He did play a number of other significant roles. He appeared in programmes ranging from Yes, Minister, Keeping Up Appearances and Goodnight Sweetheart to EastEnders and had a cameo as a Brigadier in the recent Dad's Army film.

Mel Giedroyc said on The One Show: "“An amazing guy, an amazing performance. Iconic. I think we all just hold onto the fact that his work remains forever and ever, and generations in future years will love him as we all loved him. An extraordinary performance Pike.”

Natalie Cassidy, who plays Sonia Fowler in EastEnders called Lavender a “truly gorgeous human being” in a post.

Omid Djalili was one of a number of comedians who appeared alongside Lavender in a stage revival of the Shawshank Redemption. He posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: "So sorry to hear that our dear friend Ian Lavender has passed away. Worked with him on the marvellous stage version of #ShawshankRedemption summer 2013 in Edinburgh and he was a joy.” Onstage he also appeared in The Merchant Of Venice with Dustin Hoffman, and as the narrator in a touring production of The Rocky Horror Show.