Actor Jack Wild of Oliver! fame has died from oral cancer at the age of 53.

Wild has appeared in many projects since Oliver! such as Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves and Flight of the Doves, but he was best known for his role as the Artful Dodger which earned him an Oscar nomination at 16.

Wild was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2000 and had to have his voice box and tongue removed three years ago. Since then he communicated through his wife following long periods of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Wild's agent Alex Jay said that the actor "died peacefully at midnight last night after a long battle with oral cancer".

The actor had recently said in an interview: "Until I was diagnosed with mouth cancer, I'd never heard of it.

"What I learned very quickly was that my lifestyle had made me a walking time bomb.

"I was a heavy smoker and an even heavier drinker and apparently together they are a deadly mixture."