GRANGE Hill star George A Cooper who played the grumpy caretaker in the beloved children's show has died aged 93.

His family have confirmed that he passed away "peacefully" at a Hampshire nursing home on November 16.

A funeral for the retired actor, who also starred as dodgy businessman Willie Piggott in Coronation Street, will be held at Chichester Crematorium on December 6.

As Mr Griffiths, he appeared in 103 episodes of BBC One's Grange Hill between 1985 and 1992.

The hit BBC school drama first aired in 1978 and ran until September 2008, and series five and six is about to be released on DVD to mark its 40th anniversary.