Flags on Kirklees Council buildings will be flown at half-mast in a show of respect for Nelson Mandela.

Mr Mandela, 95, died last night peacefully at home.

Council leader Mehboob Khan said the flags would be moved to the half-mast position to remember the life of the anti-apartheid icon.

He also said a Book of Condolence would be opened at Huddersfield Town Hall.

Clr Khan said: "People in Huddersfield will be joining with those across the world in mourning the passing away of the most inspirational political figure in living memory.

"Nelson Mandela was a colossus in his time and although he joked that he was not a saint, I think many people will agree that his attitude towards others particularly his opponents was at times saintly.

"He was an inspiration to all current politicians both locally and nationally."

Members of the public who wish to pay their respects may visit the town halls and sign the books and the council’s website will also carry a printable blank which can be filled with a personal message and posted to be added to the Books of Condolence before they are sent to the South African Consulate.

The Mayor of Kirklees, Clr Martyn Bolt, paid tribute to the achievements of Nelson Mandela: “Nelson Mandela is one of the most inspirational world leaders we have seen in our lifetime, and his influence has spread the world over.

"His leadership, calmness, courage and his strength to lead a nation through massive change all make him unique. He has been called South Africa’s greatest son, but his influence was global.

"He was the human demonstration that courage and belief in what is right can triumph over injustice and oppression."

Nationally, the Queen and the Prince of Wales are among those who have paid tribute to South Africa’s first black president.

The world learnt of his death as royalty, celebrities and fans were watching the royal premiere of a film chronicling his incredible life.

In a twist of fate, it was during the screening in London’s Leicester Square that Mr Mandela’s daughter Zindzi Mandela was informed her 95-year-old father had died peacefully at home.

The Queen said she is ”deeply saddened” to learn of Mr Mandela’s death, saying he ”worked tirelessly for the good of his country”.

The anti-apartheid icon, held in the highest esteem across the world for leading his nation’s transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s after 27 years in prison, had been receiving medical care for a lung infection at his home.

Mr Mandela spent his final months surrounded by family after being released from hospital following a three month stay and passed away peacefully, President Jacob Zuma announced in a televised address last night.

A statement from Buckingham Palace said: ”The Queen was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Nelson Mandela last night. He worked tirelessly for the good of his country, and his legacy is the peaceful South Africa we see today.

”Her Majesty remembers with great warmth her meetings with Mr Mandela and sends her sincere condolences to his family and the people of South Africa at this very sad time.”

File photo dated 09/07/1996 of Nelson Mandela, President of South Africa, and The Queen ride in a carriage along the Mall, London, on the first full day of his state visit to Britain
Nelson Mandela death

Prince Charles said Mr Mandela was “the embodiment of courage and reconciliation”.

He added: “He was also a man of great humour and had a real zest for life.

”With his passing, there will be an immense void not only in his family’s lives, but also in those of all South Africans and the many others whose lives have been changed through his fight for peace, justice and freedom.

”The world has lost an inspired leader and a great man. My family and I are profoundly saddened and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Screams rang out in the auditorium at the film premiere as the news was broken to Ms Mandela, although fellow audience members were not informed of the death until after the film.

Speaking before the screening of Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, she said her father was doing well, when asked about his health.

She said: “My father is fine. He’s 95 years old and he is pretty frail. We are hoping to see more of him.”

The Duke of Cambridge, with Kate beside him, gave a sombre tribute after leaving the cinema.

“It was extremely sad and tragic news,” he said.

“We were just reminded of what an extraordinary and inspiring man Nelson Mandela was and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family right now.”

Damian McCarthy, 45, who was at the screening, said: “I’ve never felt an atmosphere like that. It was unbelievable. It went from being quite a high-spirited occasion to absolute silence - stunned silence.

“It’s one of those moments where people say, ’Do you remember where you were?’ It’s definitely put a bit of a bizarre twist on the premiere.”

After the film, Idris Elba, who plays Mr Mandela, took to the stage with producer Harvey Weinstein to hold a moment’s silence to honour the great man.

''Our nation has lost its greatest son,'' Mr Zuma said. ''Our people have lost a father.

”What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves.”

A law student turned freedom fighter, his battle to end the system of apartheid that tore apart his nation led to his incarceration in a tiny cell in the infamous Robben Island jail.

Prime Minister David Cameron said ”a great light has gone out in the world” while US president Barack Obama mourned the loss of ”one of the most influential, courageous, and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth”.

Mr Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and was elected South Africa’s first black president the following year.

American civil rights leader Jesse Jackson said Mr Mandela’s ”imprint” would be ”everlasting”.