Ex-actor and campaigner Lord Rix dies after battle with illness

The learning disability campaigner and former actor Lord Rix has died, the charity Mencap said. He was 92.

The Mencap president, who previously served as the charity's secretary general and chairman and president, had been ill for some time.

He recently wrote to the Speaker of the House of Lords, Baroness D'Souza to appeal for a change in the law to legalise assisted dying so he could "slip away peacefully".

Mencap chief executive Jan Tregelles said: "His unique charm, personality and passion have been invaluable in helping Mencap grow into the UK 's leading learning disability charity, and with his passing the charity has lost a very dear friend."