Jim Miller, the cartoonist who made Argus readers laugh for more than 40 years, has died aged 80.

He produced 40,000 drawings and cartoons during his career with the paper before retiring in 1985.

Born in York, he started work on the Argus in 1945 and became best-known for his cartoons.

But he also produced many maps and illustrations. During the war he had worked for the Ordnance Survey.

At one time he penned a cartoon strip called Peter Pilot. The words were written by his wife Joan, who used to teach at Varndean School.

Mr Miller always worked on white card using pen, brush and India ink. Many of his subjects asked for the originals.

The cartoonists he admired most, including Vicky, Low, Gerald Scarfe and Steve Bell, were all much angrier than Mr Miller, whose gentle nature was reflected in his work.

But he had a strong sense of social justice and was a great admirer of the Socialist writer George Orwell.

He never sought publicity and once said: "An artist should speak through his work and not be seen."

Yet through his work, Mr Miller became one of the best known contributors to the Argus in the post-war period.

Mrs Miller said today: "He had a great affection for the Argus, where he had many friends. In those days, cartoons played a much bigger part in newspapers than they do now."

The couple were married for 58 years and their son, James, went on to pursue an academic career.

Mr Miller, of Friar Walk, Brighton, also leaves two grandchildren. He died from a heart attack on November 22. A private funeral service has already been held.