British comedian Mel Smith has died, following heart attack, at the age of 60.

Smith’s agent Michael Foster confirmed that the funnyman, best known for his work on Not The Nine O’Clock News, passed away at his home last night.

The comedian also starred in Alas Smith and Jones with his long-time comedy partner Griff Ryhs Jones, with whom he founded Talkback Productions – one of the UK’s premier producers of entertainment programming.

In a statement on behalf of the comedian’s wife, Pam, Mr Foster said: "Mel Smith, comedian and writer, died on Friday aged 60, from a heart attack at his home in north west London."

According to The BBC, a London Ambulance spokeswoman said: "We were called just after 09:07 BST on Friday 19 July to an address in NW8 and sent two responders in cars, but sadly the patient was dead at the scene."

Meanwhile, friends and colleagues paid tribute to Smith.

Tributes have already begun to roll in for the comic star, with broadcaster Stephen Fry saying "Terrible news about my old friend Mel Smith, dead today from a heart attack. Mel lived a full life, but was kind, funny and wonderful to know."