FRINTON actor Giles Watling has paid tribute to former James Bond star Sir Roger Moore.

Sir Roger died in Switzerland at the age of 89 after a short battle with cancer, his family announced yesterday.

He played the spy in seven Bond films and also starred in Sixties spy thriller The Saint.

Sir Roger often visited Frinton to see his father George.

Mr Watling, who was a child actor in the TV series Gideon’s Way, got to know Sir Roger while he filmed The Saint on a neighbouring set at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood.

Mr Watling said: “He was a lovely guy.

“He often came to Frinton. His dad lived here until he died.

“He would come down and would meet up with my father Jack to catch up.

“I fondly remember meeting Sir Roger when I was filming Gideon’s Way at Elstree.

“Sir Roger would invite me and my grandmother for tea on the set of the Saint.

“He was such a nice guy and I met him many more times over the years at various events.

“He was one of our greats and he will be very sorely missed.”

Along with Bond films including Moonraker, A View to a Kill and the Man with the Golden Gun, Sir Roger appeared in movies such as the Cannonball Run and Spice World.

He was a regular on chat show couches known for his quips and wit.

Off screen, he was respected for his charity work and was knighted in 2003 for his humanitarian work, his main focus for his final years.

A message shared on the actor’s official Twitter account read: “With the heaviest of hearts, we must share the awful news that our father, Sir Roger Moore, passed away today. We are all devastated.”

“It is with a heavy heart that we must announce our loving father, Sir Roger Moore, has passed away today in Switzerland after a short but brave battle with cancer.

“The love with which he was surrounded in his final days was so great it cannot be quantified in words alone.”

Mr Watling is standing for the Clacton seat in the upcoming General Election against David Grace (Lib Dem), Nick Martin (Ind), Paul Oakley (Ukip), Natasha Osben (Labour), Chris Southall (Green), Robin Tilbrook (English Democrats) and Caroline Shearer (Ind).