Scots entertainer Ronnie Corbett has died on Thursday morning aged 85 surrounded by his family.

Corbett first rose to fame on Sir David Frost's 1960s show The Frost Report, through which he met fellow comedian Ronnie Barker.

The pair went on to forge one of Britain's best-loved TV partnerships in their long-running The Two Ronnies sketch show.

A statement from his publicist said: "Ronnie Corbett CBE, one of the nation's best-loved entertainers, passed away this morning, surrounded by his loving family.

"They have asked that their privacy is respected at this very sad time."

The much-loved entertainer, born Ronald Balfour Corbett, regularly visited his home town of Edinburgh during the Fringe festival, has suffered health scares before.

Tributes flooded in from the celebrity world with, comedians, writers, sports people and actors paying their respects.

Comedian Ricky Gervais tweeted: "RIP the lovely, funny legend Ronnie Corbett. It was an absolute honour & joy to have known him."

Lord Alan Sugar wrote: "Sad news about Ronnie Corbett, very funny man R.I.P" and former football star and pundit Gary Lineker added: "Another national treasure leaves us. A brilliant comedian and a genuinely lovely bloke. RIP Ronnie Corbett."

Gary Tank Commander start Greg McHugh tweeted: "One of my comedy heroes, very sad news. But what a legacy he has left. Timeless brilliance."

His long professional association with Barker produced one of the most popular TV programmes of the late 20th century until Barker's retirement in the mid-1980s, after it had run for 12 series.

The Two Ronnies, which ran from 1971 to 1987, ended with the two saying: "It's goodnight from me ... and it's goodnight from him."

Most TV critics rated them as funnier than Morecambe and Wise. When on his own, Corbett specialised in long, rambling jokes delivered from an armchair with his legs dangling in the air.

He was born in Edinburgh on December 4, 1930. He was educated at the James Gillespie School and the Royal High School, Edinburgh. At the age of 15, he was playing the Wicked Aunt in a pantomime at his local church youth club in Edinburgh.

Corbett had suffered health problems before and was taken to hospital with chest pains in 2014.