A man who gained famed above the Atlantic for playing one of Charles Dickens' bestknown characters died today.

Martin Harris, 66, had cancer but two weeks ago made his last performance as Ebenezer Scrooge. His five hour final appearance was in the pub where the Indian Princess Pocahontas, died.

Friends had organised a four course Christmas meal for him with traditional Dickensian food and drink at the Three Daws in Gravesend.

Last week he was admitted to a local hospice as his illness grew worse.

Mr Harris regularly appeared at the San Francisco Dickens festival and on at least one occasion was named the festival's best actor.

Recognised on a transatlantic flight, he was persuaded to entertain the flyers with a head-in-the-clouds performance.

Pocahontas died from a ship-borne illness when she came to England with her husband, Captain John Smith, in the 1620s.