Scots actor Russell Hunter dies

Mr Hunter had been battling cancer

Scottish actor Russell Hunter has died from lung cancer at the age of 79.

Best known for his role alongside Edward Woodward in the 70s thriller series Callan, Hunter was a highly regarded star of stage and screen.

Married to fellow performer Una McLean, he appeared in programmes ranging from Taggart to Doctor Who and the Sweeney and recently had a role in award winning film American cousins.

He passed away in Edinburgh's Western General Hospital on Thursday morning.

Born in Glasgow in 1925, he served as an apprentice in a shipyard on the Clyde before taking up acting.

In 1947, he appeared in the first ever Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Despite battling cancer, the veteran actor was back on the scene receiving rave reviews for his appearance in American Cousins late last year.

In November, the film, Hunter's last movie role, received the prestigious Special Jury Prize at the Savannah Film Festival in the United States, ending a career spanning six decades.

His wife Una confirmed the sad news.

She said: "Russell died peacefully of lung cancer at the Western General Hospital."