Tributes have poured in for a hugely popular former night-club boss widely regarded as a legend of Carlisle's music scene.

When Les Leighton ran the famous Cosmo Club in Harraby in the sixties and seventies its reputation was such that it attracted the biggest names in the music business, including renowned bands such as The Who, Pink Floyd and the Moody Blues.

It became a Mecca for music fans from across Cumbria and the north.

Following Les's death last week at the age of 85 at Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary, scores of people have used social media to pay him tribute, underlining the huge part that the Cosmo played in their lives and the high regard in which Les was held.

“Les was Carlisle's Mr Entertainment,” said broadcaster and media mogul John Myers, who worked in the Cosmo as a teenager.

“He was the guy who brought all of the big names in music to Carlisle and the Cosmo was the place you went to to see them.

“He gave me my first job at his club as a glass collector when I was 13. I lied, saying I was 15, but I wanted to see all those bands and you had to be 18 to get in.

"It was the only way I could get in.

"All of the big 70s artists Les brought to the Cosmo.

"He was a man of his time.

"And he was one of Carlisle's biggest celebrities back then.

"If you wrote a list of Carlisle's biggest characters he'd be right up there: a big lively character, and everybody remembers him for the joy that he brought them.

"That's his legacy: the joy he brought to so many people.”

Les's club was credited with bringing together numerous Cumbrian couples whose nightclub romance blossomed into marriage.

At its peak, the club had 19,000 members, with revellers travelling from as far away as Wigan to sample the atmosphere.

Among the other top acts which played there were Procul Harum, The Drifters, and The Troggs as well as an early version of Ozzy Osbourne's band Black Sabbath.

In a Facebook post, Les's son Grant said of his father: "When I was a kid he was my hero. Now I'm a grown man...he's still my hero."

Theresa Scott: “By the very fact that he opened the Cosmo, he was paramount in the making of lots of fantastic lifetime memories for Carlisle folk. Not many can make that claim.”

Sylvia Bulman: “We all benefited from his hard work; saw and heard music and entertainment what wouldn't have been possible without him.”

Maggie Morris: “So sorry to hear the sad news. We had great nights at the Cosmo. He was a real character.”

June Stevenson: “I worked at the Cosmo as a glass collector in the 70s to subsidise my student nurse wages. I met my husband there 39 years ago. I never met your dad but used to see him from a distance.”

Gillian Perry: “Les was a lovely man who came to Compton Street Spiritualist Church. Always a great sense of humour and man with interesting tales to tell. His love for his wife and family was always evident.”

BBC Radio Cumbria presenter Val Armstrong: “A few of us were reminiscing about nights at the Cosmo recently. Great memories thanks to your dad.”

Kath Jamieson: “I didn't know your dad personally but obviously I knew he was loved. Like many other Carlislians I met my now ex-hubby there. Holds a lot of happy memories and your dad was the person who made it all happen. What great days we all had at the Cosmo. Thank you Les.”

Stan Dobson: “Les was a lovely guy.”

Kathleen Rawes: “Les was a lovely guy and the Cosmo was the best place ever when I was growing up.”

When Les and his wife Sandra, from Stanwix, celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary, she said of him: “ “Every day he has made me laugh in some way or another. Humour is the way to keep it going.”