Actor-comedian Alan Young, who played the amiable straight man to a talking horse in the 1960s TV sitcom Mr Ed, has died aged 96.

Jaime Larkin, spokeswoman for the Motion Picture and Television Home said the English-born actor had lived in the retirement community in California for four years.

She said his children were with him when he died peacefully of natural causes.

Alan Young played the role of architect Wilbur Post, who talked to his horse, Ed, and the horse talked to him.

The show topped the ratings for years.

Alan Young also had a respectable career in the movies.