NORTH East friends of the late Sir Jimmy Savile were last night paying tribute to the veteran DJ and presenter.

The charismatic broadcasting stalwart was found dead at his home in Roundhay, Leeds, on Saturday. He would have been 85 today.

Sir Jimmy had a close connection with the region and regularly visited family in South Shields and Whitley Bay when growing up.

He often spoke of his affection for the North East and reminisced of the “incredibly good times” he had.

The star – who presented the very first episode of Top Of The Pops – was also a regular face at the Great North Run, attending almost every race since 1982. He raised some £40m for charity.

North businessman John Caine, co-founder of the Great North Run, became close friends with Sir Jimmy following his long association with the half-marathon, which he ran more than 20 times.

He said: “I first got to know Jimmy when I was working for Nike – we used to make his trainers and famous tracksuits.

“When we started the Great North Run, he unfortunately missed the first one, but from 1982 onwards he either ran, walked or was a guest starter. It was only in the last six or seven years that he started slowing down.

“He has been a great friend of not just the Great North Run but the North East, and a few years ago we inducted him into our Hall of Fame.”

John, of Riding Mill, Northumberland, said Sir Jimmy’s over-the-top character didn’t stop when the cameras stopped rolling.

“He was known for being outrageous and flamboyant and that never stopped,” he said.