French chef and restaurateur Michel Roux OBE has died aged 78.

He passed away on Wednesday night surrounded by his family at home in Bray-on-Thames, Berkshire.

In a statement seen by The Independent it was confirmed that the cause of death was long-term idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

“He had fought a long and brave battle,” it reads.

Michel’s son Alain and daughters, Francine and Christine, on behalf of the Roux family said: “It is with deep sadness that the Roux family announces the passing of our beloved grandfather, father, brother and uncle, Michel Roux OBE.

“The family would like to thank everyone for their support during his illness. While many of you will share our great sense of loss, we request privacy for the family at this difficult time.”

The Roux scholarship, a cooking competition set up in 1984 by Michel Roux and his brother Albert – and now run by their sons Alain Roux and Michel Roux Jr – also released a statement on Instagram on Thursday.

“We are deeply saddened to have lost our founding father, Michel Roux OBE. We are grateful to have shared our lives with this extraordinary man and we’re so proud of all he’s achieved.

“A humble genius, legendary chef, popular author and charismatic teacher, Michel leaves the world reeling in his wake. For many, he was a father figure inspiring all with his insatiable appetite for life and irresistible enthusiasm.

“But above all, we will miss his mischievous sense of fun, his huge, bottomless heart and generosity and kindness that knew no bounds. Michel’s star will shine forever lighting the way for a generation of chefs to follow.”

Roux, often known as Michel Roux Sr, was best known for opening Le Gavroche restaurant in Sloane Square in 1967 and was given the nickname “the godfather of modern cuisine”.

In 2017 he told The Independent that when he moved to the UK from France the food was “in the dark ages”.

He said: “We came to point the way forward knowing that we would face either a quick death or quick success.

“Luckily, it was the right time. Now, in restaurant terms, we have landed on the moon and Mars, all in 45 years.”

Michel Roux - A life in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 Michel Roux - A life in pictures Michel Roux - A life in pictures The Roux brothers in 'Take Six Cooks' TV Programme, 1985 Rex Features Michel Roux - A life in pictures Michel Roux pictured with his wife Robyn at their home In Bray, 1992 Rex Features Michel Roux - A life in pictures Trevor Blyth celebrates in style with judges Gary Rhodes and Michel Roux after winning the coveted Roux Diners Club scholarship competition at Four Seasons Hotel, London on March 1996 PA Michel Roux - A life in pictures Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw after presenting French cooks Albert and Michel Roux with their honorary OBE medals at the Foreign Office in London 31 October 2002. The brothers received the honor for their services to cooking AFP via Getty Images Michel Roux - A life in pictures Competitor Helene Andersen discusses the finer points of cooking Brill with judge Michel Roux during the final of the Roux Scholarship at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London, 2009 PA Michel Roux - A life in pictures Michel Roux chats to Heston Blumenthal as they judge the final round of a competition for chefs to win a 'Roux Scholarship' at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park on April 6, 2009 Getty Images Michel Roux - A life in pictures Michel Roux judges the final round of a competition for chefs to win a 'Roux Scholarship' in 2009 Getty Images Michel Roux - A life in pictures Michel Roux OBE and Albert Roux OBE speak during the finals of the 'Roux Scholarship' competitionl in central London, on April 6, 2009 AFP via Getty Images

Among those to cook under Roux during his career were Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsay and Pierre Koffman.

Le Gavroche was the first restaurant in the UK to win a Michelin star in 1974. Roux would go on to win three stars for the restaurant in his lifetime, and a further three for The Waterside Inn.

Roux appeared regularly on BBC cooking shows Saturday Kitchen and Masterchef and on the TV series The Roux Legacy about the impact of the Roux family on the world of cooking.