Bill Pertwee, one of the last surviving members of Dad's Army, has died aged 86.

The actor, who passed away peacefully in his sleep at a nursing home in Cornwall, played grumpy air raid warden Hodges in the 1970s hit comedy.

His passing leaves only three main stars from the show still alive: Ian Lavender (Private Pike), Frank Williams (The Reverend Farthing) and Pamela Cundell (Mrs Fox).

Pertwee, whose death follows that of Clive Dunn (Lance Corporal Jack Jones) last December, was best known for his character's frequent cry of "Put that light out!"

His son Jonathan, 46, paid tribute to his father, saying: "He was very loved by everyone that knew him. I think he'd like to be remembered as someone who had a good go and loved the people he was around.

"He was never short of offering help to other people – he was always happy to help other people out."

Pertwee received many awards for his acting and comedy, including an MBE in June 2007 for his charity work and entertainment services and a Comic Heritage Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. The actor was also the subject of This is your Life in 1999.

Although he was best known for his roles in the Bafta award-winning Dad's Army, Pertwee also performed in an opera, pantomimes and the 2010 England World Cup song. He appeared in You Rang M'Lord? as well as three Carry On films: Carry on Loving (1970), Carry on at Your Convenience (1971) and Carry On Girls (1973).

Over the years he worked with Spike Milligan, Kenneth Williams, George Burns and Sammy Davis Junior.

Pertwee was also a skilled impressionist and featured in more than 1000 radio broadcasts for BBC comedy programmes Round the Horne and Beyond our Ken.

He was with his companion Maggie Bourgein, his son Jonathan Pertwee and Jonathan's partner at the time of his death.

His wife Marion McLeod died on the same date in 2005. He is survived by Jonathan and two grandchildren.

Jonathan Pertwee said his father was the only cast member who originally thought Dad's Army would be a success.

He said: "A lot of the other members of the cast were all rather not sure that this was going to take off.

"Jimmy Perry, who wrote it, said that dad was the one that was going around to everyone saying, 'Go on, we've got a chance here, we've all been offered a great chance to be in this thing, it's going to be a success, it'll be wonderful'."

Mr Pertwee said his father loved Dad's Army. He added: "He used to have a lot of fun with Clive and John Le Mesurier and Frank Williams and all of them. They just had a great bond."