THE town of Lyme Regis is in mourning after the death of author John Fowles, whose book The French Lieutenant's Woman put the town on the literary world map.

The 79-year-old had suffered a long illness, his publisher said.

In recent years, and despite failing health, Mr Fowles had taken up the fight to protect his beloved Lyme Regis from what he felt was unwelcome development.

Also a distinguished historian, he had at one time served as curator of the Philpot Museum in Lyme Regis for 10 years, and wrote a short history of the town which was published in 1982.

Lyme Regis Mayor Barbara Austin said: "The making of the film of The French Lieutenant's Woman here was a tremendous attraction to the town, and brought a lot of people to visit, particularly Americans.

"He was an extremely nice man and worked very hard for the museum.

"If anybody ever asked 'who have you got who is famous in Lyme Regis?' his was the first name that came to people's lips. He was a legend.

"He has left a lot of history and he will be very sadly missed, because he was a gentleman."

In 2001 Mr Fowles launched an unsuccessful national campaign to prevent 16 houses being built on the former Coram Court hotel site, warning that it would destroy the historic town's unique skyline and turn it into 'Surrey by the Sea'.

He lived in the outwardly imposing Belmont House, once the home of the famous 18th century Lyme businesswoman Eleanore Coade.

Mr Fowles married his second wife, Sarah, a graphic designer, in 1998 in Lyme's Guildhall, but the couple had known each other for several decades.

At the time he said: "My life has been incredibly rich and full - I do think of myself as a lucky man."

He had a great affection for Dorset and Lyme Regis and was quoted as saying: "In Lyme, there is always a sense of being separate from the rest of the country.

"Dorset is an 'awkward cuss' of a place, as the Victorians would have said - it means someone who never quite agrees with the way everyone else sees the world.

"Everywhere I know in the county has that quality about it - perhaps that is why I feel at home here."

The fossil hunting for which the area's world-renowned coastline is celebrated also engaged Fowles' curiosity, and he regarded one of the palaeontological pioneers, Mary Anning, as the most important figure in Lyme's past.

Mr Fowles, who died on Saturday, had lived in Lyme since 1968 and had been an active member of the community.

He has also written numerous books about Lyme Regis including Lyme Worthies, a humorous look at people of note in the town.

Coun Austin said: "He caused a bit of a stir with the book, and everyone had an opinion on who should have been in it. I was honoured he chose to include me."

Mr Fowles' novel The French Lieutenant's Woman was set partly in Lyme Regis and the film, starring Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons, brought worldwide recognition to the town, particularly the Cobb.

His home within view of the Cobb was often besieged with literary students wanting to discuss his work, and he set up the John Fowles Literary Trust to turn his home into a retreat on his death.

Mr Fowles once said he knew people thought he was a cantankerous man of letters but that this was partly a myth he propagated himself.

"A writer, well-known, more or less living on his own, will be persecuted by his readers," he said.

"They want to see you and talk to you. And they don't realise that very often gets on one's nerves."