Spike Milligan, who lived for many years in Sussex, was one of the dominant influences on humour in the past century.

His anarchic sense of fun, which surfaced in the Goon Show, led the way to surreal comedy, such as Monty Python's Flying Circus, and has influenced many of today's top comedians.

Sometimes he could be brilliantly funny but often he was awkward and difficult. That was because he suffered for much of his life from mental illness.

His courage in tacking these difficulties, and in making them public at a time when most people kept quiet, was as important in many ways as his comic genius.

Many people who were affected as he was by manic depression and who suffered breakdowns felt relieved they too could be open about it.

Following the deaths of Harry Secombe, Michael Bentine and Peter Sellers, Milligan was the last of the Goons.

Millions of fans will be sad that he has died. He will be Goon but not forgotten.