The designer of the iconic Dalek villains from the long-running cult science fiction series Doctor Who, Ray Cusick, has died aged 84.

His daughter, Claire Heawood, says her father died of heart failure in his sleep after a short illness.

Mr Cusick, from Horsham, West Sussex, leaves two daughters and seven grandchildren.

The designer gave form to the concept of the Daleks, created by screenwriter Terry Nation and which first appeared in series one of Doctor Who nearly 50 years ago.

The metal-clad creatures went on to become a cultural sensation, with generations growing to love their command of "exterminate".

"It's with great sadness that we report the death of Ray Cusick - the designer of the Daleks. Half a century on, his iconic design lives on," the official Doctor Who magazine said on Twitter.

Doctor Who actor and writer Mark Gatiss tweeted: "Farewell to the great Ray Cusick. His passing is especially sad in this anniversary year but his creation remains immortal. Daleks forever!"

BBC

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