TRIBUTES last night poured in for ­British film great Lord Richard Attenborough, who has died at the age of 90.

The actor and film director, whose career spanned six decades, died yesterday afternoon.

He had been in a nursing home with his wife for a number of years and had used a wheelchair since falling down stairs six years ago.

Prime Minister David Cameron led the tributes, posting on Twitter: "His acting in Brighton Rock was brilliant, his directing of Gandhi was stunning - Richard Attenborough was one of the greats of cinema." Labour MP Diane Abbott also paid tribute to the lifelong Labour supporter, saying: "Very sad to hear Richard Attenborough has died - a man of the establishment who was never afraid to challenge that same establishment."

Lord Attenborough was one of ­Britain's leading actors, well known for his roles in Brighton Rock and Second World War prison camp thriller The Great Escape.

He later became a highly successful director, perhaps best known for Gandhi, which won two Oscars.