The designer of the Raleigh Chopper bicycle, Alan Oakley, has died of cancer.

The 84-year-old passed away at his home in Nottinghamshire, reports the BBC.

The midlands city was the manufacturing home of the iconic Chopper, which became a "must have" item during the 1970s.

The bike's design featured many "cool" features that were intended to appeal to 70's youngsters. Its padded highback seat, and high-rise ape handlebars.

Oakley is credited with saving Raleigh from bankruptcy with this innovative design, which was meant to bring the style of a motorbike to the bicycle, as seen in the film Easy Rider

The Raleigh Chopper had a much chunkier tread on its wheels compared with contemporary bikes, as well as an iconic 'sissy bar' style structure above the seat.

His wife told BBC News "As a friend and former colleague of Alan's said, 'Raleigh was Alan and Alan was Raleigh.'"

She told the BBC how the "showstopping design" was sketched on the back of an airmail envelope as Oakley flew back from an American business trip.

The Chopper stopped being produced after the BMX movement eclipsed the popularity of the Raleigh bike, though not before one million Choppers were produced at the Nottinghamshire factory.

However the cult bike was brought back in 2004, with makers Raleigh citing a renewed demand for "retro" bicycles.

On Sunday, Twitter paid tribute to the much loved designer, with users of the social media site hailing the creator of a bike and the "classic design" that was such an iconic part of their childhood. "Kids from the 70's salute you!" tweeted one user.