Tributes have been paid today to broadcaster and music mogul Anthony Wilson, who has died at the age of 57 following a battle with cancer.

The former Granada Reports newsreader - dubbed Mr Manchester for helping to put the city on the map - died of a heart attack yesterday, brought on by his ill health.

Born in Salford, he made his mark as a news reporter and presenter on Granada, before going on to found the Factory record label and Hacienda nightclub.

In recent years, Wilson returned to TV as presenter of The Politics Show on BBC.

He was diagnosed with kidney cancer last year.

Tasmin O' Brien, head of regional and local programmes for BBC in the North-west, said: "We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of Tony Wilson. There will never be anyone quite like Tony.

"He was a true free spirit and a passionate advocate for Manchester - the city, its people and, of course, its music. Tony had a fantastic broadcasting career, latterly with the BBC, and everyone in the industry will share our deep sense of loss today."

Wilson fell ill in 2006 and was diagnosed with cancer before undergoing emergency surgery to have a kidney removed.

He later underwent a course of chemotherapy at the Christie Hospital in Manchester.

During his battle with cancer, Wilson helped to highlight the "postcode health lottery" in the UK.

Doctors at the Christie Hospital advised Wilson to use the drug Sutent, which has not yet been recommended by the NHS treatments watchdog.

Sutent is said to extend the life of advanced kidney patients by up to two years, but costs about the same as dialysis.

Wilson was told he had to pay for the drug himself, despite patients living a few miles away in Cheshire receiving NHS funding for the £3,500-a-month treatment.

Wilson was born in Salford's Hope Hospital on February 20, 1950. He attended De La Salle Grammar School in Salford before going on to read English at Jesus College, Cambridge University.

He worked for Granada Television in Manchester during the 1970s, where he fronted programmes including music show So It Goes and current affairs magazine World In Action.

He went on to be long-time host of the early evening Granada Reports.

His music career began in the late 1970s when he helped found Factory Records, which was the label behind Joy Division, New Order and The Happy Mondays.

In 1982, he set up The Hacienda nightclub, which was at the forefront of the "indie" music scene during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The club, in Whitworth Street, became the heart of "Madchester" rave scene, and also played host to bands such as New Order, The Smiths, The Stone Roses and Oasis. It closed in 1997 after cash-flow problems, but was immortalised in Michael Winterbottom's 2002 film, 24 Hour Party People. Wilson's character was played by comedian Steve Coogan.

Phil Saxe, who used to work at Factory Records with Wilson, said: "Part of me, part of Manchester, part of modern British music has died tonight.

"Tony was a genius."