Postman Pat and Rosie and Jim creator John Cunliffe has died aged 85

John Cunliffe passed away last Thursday (September 20) aged 85. 

Sky News has reported that the author's agents David Higham confirmed the news after an obituary appeared in his local paper the Ilkley Gazette. 

It read: '˜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.' 

Mr Cunliffe created Postman Pat for the BBC, writing the original treatments '“ with the show debuting in 1981. 

He also created Rosie and Jim, which followed the adventures of two rag dolls on a canal boat, for ITV '“ and narrated the first two series.