The creator of "Thomas and His Friends" has died at the age of 82

British director and creator of the animated series "Thomas and his friends" Britt Ellcroft died at the 82nd year of life. This was reported by The New York Times on January 3 with reference to Ellcroft's daughter .

"Ms. Ellcroft was the driving force behind bringing Thomas the Steamroller, the animated locomotive first conceived in a series of children's books in the 1940s by the Rev. Wilbert Audrey, to television screens," the publication noted.

While working on a documentary about British steam locomotives in 1979, Ellcroft met Wilbert Audrey, author of a children's railroad book series. After reading it, the director came up with the idea to create an animated series based on it.

It was released on ITV under the name "Thomas and his friends" in 1984. Later the name of the series was shortened to "Thomas and his friends". It soon became one of the world's largest toy franchises. Analysts estimate its annual retail sales at more than $1 billion.