James Herbert: UK horror author dies aged 69

Best-selling author James Herbert, who wrote the horror classic The Rats, has died aged 69.

His publisher, Pan Macmillan, confirmed that he died at his home in Sussex this morning. No cause of death was given.

Jeremy Trevathan, his editor for 10 years, described him as "one of the keystone authors in a genre that had its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s".

He is survived by his wife, Eileen, whom he married in 1967, and their three daughters Kerry, Emma and Casey.

Herbert's first novel, The Rats, depicted London overrun by mutant flesh-eating rodents and sold 100,000 copies within two weeks of being published in 1974.

Since then, he has published 23 novels in more than 30 languages, selling 54 million copies worldwide. His latest book, Ash, was published last week.

One of his friends, Gordon Giltrap, paid tribute to the author on Twitter: "Received some sad news this morning that my good friend James Herbert has passed away. Am in no mood for music, that's for sure. RIP Jim."

Another, Peter James, wrote: "Deeply saddened to hear today that my dear friend, writer James Herbert, died last night. Will miss you lots, Jim, you were a diamond."