Mr Mosley had suffered from heart trouble for some time, which forced him to reduce the number of appearances he made in the programme before he retired last year.

Corrie stalwart: One of the Street's famous faces

Shopkeeper Alf Roberts was a Coronation Street regular for 37 years. He made his first appearance in 1961, and his last on New Year's Eve when the character died in his sleep in a special farewell episode.

Mr Mosley collapsed in Shipley High Street, West Yorkshire, and was dead on arrival at Bradford Royal Infirmary, a Granada spokeswoman said.

She said: "It was very sudden. His family told us about it this evening."

Mr Mosley's ill health was behind the producers' decision to retire him from the programme.

Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow in the soap, said: "We had hoped that after his retirement Bryan would have had many more years with his family.

'A good man and a great actor'

"I was very fond of Bryan. I missed Alf as a character and always expected to keep seeing Bryan as a friend.

"He was a very good man and a great actor. He was a wonderful man who was a good friend and I loved him dearly.

"I was very close to him and I shall miss him very much."

Johnny Briggs, who plays businessman Mike Baldwin in the show, said: "I loved him and I am absolutely devastated by this.

"I will remember him to the day I die because he has been a great, great friend of mine.

'Desperately missed'

"He was wonderful. A family man and a bloody good actor. A great loss to me as a friend. He will be desperately missed."

Mr Mosley's character, Alf, began as a Post Office worker before becoming well known for running the Street's Corner Shop throughout the 1980s and early 1990s.

Alf also became a prominent local councillor, before twice serving as mayor and appeared in 1,863 episodes of the soap.

Leeds-born Mr Mosley, a keen fencer, also featured in other TV hits like Z Cars, The Saint and Doctor Who, in addition to film roles in Get Carter, Far From The Madding Crowd and A Kind of Loving.

Speaking weeks before his death, he said: "Over the years I have really had no life of my own.

"Now I am enjoying catching up with everyone - especially (my wife) Norma."