A BLACK Country film-maker has paid tribute to popular TV actor Geoffrey Hughes who appeared in two of his charity films shot locally.

The veteran star, best known for playing binman Eddie Yeats in Coronation Street in the 1970s and 80s, died on July 27 after losing his long battle with prostate cancer.

Hughes, aged 68, was also renowned for his roles as Onslow in Keeping up Appearances, Twiggy in The Royle Family and Vernon in Heartbeat.

But he had a place in the hearts of many aspiring Black Country actors and production crew after he gave up his time for free to appear in two successful charity flicks directed and produced by Kevin Powis from Halesowen and Martin Nigel Davey from Birmingham.

The pair cast Hughes alongside a host of popular TV names in both Expresso and Waiting in Rhyme which were both shot, near Bromsgrove, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

He starred with the likes of the late Sir Norman Wisdom in the first comedy short, based around one day in a cafe, which was filmed in January 2007 at Waseley Hills Country Park.

And he joined a line-up which included TV favourites Les Dennis, Sally Lindsay and John Alderton when he appeared in Waiting in Rhyme - shot in 2008.

Director Kevin said: “Geoffrey was a great professional and a great guy. He never made a fuss when things went a bit wrong - he always was understanding and very patient.

“It is a pleasure that famous actors chose to come to the Midlands to work on our short films.”

Former Corrie and Royle Family star Sally Lindsay, who also appeared in Waiting in Rhyme, wrote on Twitter that her first TV job was playing Twiggy's girlfriend in The Royle Family; and she added “he was so kind RIP lovely man x".

Stourbridge actress Amanda Edwards, who had a role in Waiting in Rhyme, simply described him as a “gentleman”.

Copies of both charity films starring Geoffrey Hughes are still available from www.poetryfilm.com  and www.expressofilm.com