Cartoonists from all over the United States have paid tribute to Peanuts creator Charles M Schulz the best way they know - by drawing cartoons.

The National Cartoonists' Society issued an e-mail request for members to put together a Get Well drawing for Schulz last week and the resultant contributions have been posted on the society's website.

Among those who contributed were Chris Browne, who draws the Hagar the Horrible, Hank Ketcham the creator of Dennis the Menace, Duck Edwing of Mad magazine, Patrick McDonnell who draws Mutts, and Jerry Robinson, who worked on the original Batman strip and invented The Joker character.

Cartoonist Frank Mariani collected the drawings, assembled them into posters and had them printed and delivered to Schulz's assistant, Paige Braddock, who delivered them to him in the hospital.

Beloved figure

Daryl Cagle, president of the US National Cartoonists' Society, told BBC News Online: "The news that Sparky had recently been diagnosed with cancer is terribly sad news for the cartoonist community where Sparky is a beloved figure.

"His work is an inspiration to his peers and he has been personally available and involved with his colleagues. He is a beloved figure in the industry."

Mr Cagle said the idea to contribute drawings came after a conversation with United Media editor Amy Lago, after Schulz was diagnosed with colon cancer.