MORSE’S Oxford of gruesome murders and smoke-filled pubs is set to enchant a new generation of fans following Colin Dexter’s death.

The Inspector Morse Society said it has already seen huge demand for items associated with the fictional detective since the author died on Tuesday.

Society chairman Dr Anthony Richards said: “Lots of people only know Inspector Morse through the TV series, so some readers will now have the chance to discover the novels for the first time.

“Colin always wrote quite short chapters and that makes the novels very accessible – I’m sure there will be a resurgence in sales.

“Following news of Colin’s death we have been inundated with offers for items on sale through our website.

“Fans want to buy anything that has been signed by Colin, including his books, and limited edition first day cover stamps which were issued in the mid-1990s.”

Publisher Macmillan re-issued the Morse back catalogue last spring with new covers, all of which feature photos of Oxford.

Tributes continued to pour in yesterday as friends of the Banbury Road resident remembered his generosity, intelligence and sense of humour.

Former Thames Valley Police superintendent David Hodges met Mr Dexter when he was appointed as a public relations officer with the force in the early 1980s.

He went on to become a crime writer and in 1999 his first book, Flashpoint, was described by Mr Dexter as ‘a splendid debut in crime fiction.’

Mr Hodges said: “It is rare for a successful author to bother to help an aspiring one. In Colin’s case, this was quite the reverse.

“He was a true icon of the literary world and a really lovely unassuming man, who consistently refused to talk about himself and his achievements, but instead displayed an innate interest in everyone he came in contact with.”

Peter Burke, who worked with Mr Dexter to introduce GCSE qualifications, became a close friend over the following years.

In the mid-1990s he was validating qualifications for Russians working in the petroleum gas industry when they came to Oxford to be presented with their qualifications.

He said: “They were asked who they would like to present them.

“They all said Colin Dexter, his work was known in some of the outermost reaches of Russia.

“They all knew him and they all got photos with him.

“He was a great character and will be sadly missed but he will always be around thanks to his work.”