DEVASTATED Brits today said 'goodbye to their childhood' as they flooded social media with emotional tributes to the creator of Rosie and Jim and Postman Pat.

John Cunliffe died aged 85 and is remembered as the bearded boat driver - referred to as "Fizzgog" - who often joined Rosie and Jim on their barge.

He also wrote children's favourite Postman Pat - which first aired in 1981 and is still shown today.

But his obituary in the Ilkley Gazette read: "CUNLIFFE John Left his Ilkley home in a deluge of rain on Thursday, September 20, never to return.

"Even the skies wept for John the gifted creator of 'Postman Pat', 'Rosie and Jim' and author of many earlier published collections of poetry and picture story books for children.

"John's last poetry collection, significantly entitled 'Dare You Go' has now come to fruition for John has dared to go and he has gone."

And now Brits have expressed how part of their childhood has gone.

"Goodbye to another part of childhood," wrote one Twitter user.

"RIP, John, you made one young family very happy," added one dad.

Another Brit posted: "Oh Fizzgog. Whoever will write down Rosie and Jim’s stories now? Thank you for being such an important and special part of my childhood, your characters filled my home with joy."

Others called John a "TV father figure".

The dad of one lived in Kendal in the Lake District for six years - a setting which provided the inspiration for Postman Pat.

He delighted generations of children with his tales of rural postman Pat Clifton and his black and white cat Jess, who lived in the fictional village of Greendale.

Following the success of the TV show, commissioned by the BBC in the 1980s, Mr Cunliffe became a local celebrity.

He wrote the original scripts and the show was directed by animator Ivor Wood, who also worked on the Magic Roundabout, The Wombles, Paddington Bear and the Herbs.

Following the success of the first series, four TV specials and a second series of 13 episodes were produced during the 1990s, when Pat had a family.

Mr Cunliffe then went on to create children's TV show Rosie and Jim in the 1990s - scripting and presenting the first 50 episodes.

He worked for years as a librarian and teacher and said he always had a keen interest in reading.

A spokeswoman at his agency, David Higham, confirmed the sad news to The Sun Online this afternoon.