The man who put Hay-on-Wye on the map has died.

Richard Booth who famously declared himself King of the independent kingdom of Hay-on-Wye in an April Fools publicity stunt in 1977, died in the early hours of Tuesday, August 20.

The eccentric businessman, who had family roots in the area, arrived in Hay in the early 1960s and opened second hand bookshops and also bought the town castle.

In 1977 he made the unilateral declaration of independence for Hay-on-Wye, setting the town up as the kingdom of books and anointing himself king. He declared Hay a booktown and at its peak the town had more than 30 second hand book stores.

Hay bookseller Derek Addyman, who has owned his own bookshop, with his business partner, in Hay for more than 30 years, paid tribute to his former employer.

Mr Addyman said: "I ask people who come to Hay what do they think of Hay and they say it is an amazing place and I say it is all down to one man who had the vision to instigate the book economy and based it in Hay. Long live the King."

A death notice said Mr Booth passed away “peacefully at home” aged 80 and that he was a devoted husband of Hope.

Mr Booth, who is known as King Richard and was awarded an MBE in 2004 in recognition of his services to tourism, established the town’s reputation as the kingdom of second hand books. T

He lived in Cusop and his funeral will be held at Cusop Church on Thursday, August 29 at 2.30pm.

The death notice said that if people desire to leave flowers or make donations in his memory, it should be at their own choice.