North East actor Dale Meeks who starred in Emmerdale, Byker Grove and recently The Hunt for Raoul Moat, has sadly died age of just 48.

Tributes tonight have been pouring in for the South Tyneside actor who has starred on stage and screen for decades.

He appeared on screen just last week in The Hunt for Raoul Moat - and memorably alongside Ant and Dec in Byker Grove who tonight led the tributes.

Read More: The Hunt for Roaul Moat full cast list

News of his death was broken by a family member on Facebook.

The post read "So unbelievably sad. Brother in Law, mucca, side kick and just the BEST friend a lad could have wished for. RIP Dale Meeks. So much less to laugh about now you're not there to share it with."

"Thanks everyone for all the beautiful messages and memories you have been sharing. The support of Dale's friends has been so incredibly strong over these chaotic, heartbreaking final hours, I can only stand in awe."

Dale was a familiar face as Simon Meredith in Emmerdale and he and his Emmerdale co-star Mark Charnock won Celebrity Stars in their Eyes as the Blues Brothers.

Away from TV, Dale toured the country in the cast of Chicago and also had a role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies.

Tonight Ant and Dec took to Twitter to speak of their sadness.

The Geordie duo, who played PJ and Duncan on the programme, tweeted: "We are so incredibly sorry to hear the very sad news of Dale’s passing. He was the loveliest of guys, even though he was a Denton ‘Burner’, the arch nemesis of the Byker ‘Grovers’! A sad loss at such a young age. RIP Dale. Sleep well bonny lad," followed by a praying hands emoji.

And fellow actor Stephen Sullivan shared a touching tribute as he wrote: "Dale Meeks was an inspiration to me, watching the band when I was younger, watching him perform on stage, seeing him on the telly box and working with him. He was such a talent. He had so much more to give. He was loved and respected more than he knew. The last time I worked with him was an absolute joy."