Screenshot of the show Thunderbirds. (YouTube)

Gerry Anderson, the brains behind TV puppet heroes the Thunderbirds, has died, aged 83.

He passed away on Christmas Day, according to a post on his son Jamie's website.

Anderson was born in London and his film career began as a teenager. He also created hit kids TV adventure shows Stingray and Captain Scarlet & The Mysterons, among many other puppet-led projects.

The Thunderbirds first hit the small screen in the mid 1960s.

Anderson was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) medal in 2001 for his services to animation.

He was diagnosed with dementia in 2010 and his son now reveals the TV great's condition "worsened quite dramatically over the past six months".

He was a resident of a care home when he died.

Alongside Stingray, Captain Scarlet and Thunderbirds, Anderson also earned producer credits for projects like Terrahawks, The Protectors, Space: 1999, Fireball XL5, Supercar and 1970s TV movies The Day After Tomorrow, Journey Through the Black Sun and Alien Attack.