Alvin Stardust dies aged 72

Singer Alvin Stardust has died aged 72 after suffering a short illness.

Having been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer the singer died at home with his wife and family beside him, his manager said in a statement.

Stardust was all ready to release a new album 'Alvin' at the start of next month, his first album in 30 years.

The singer said of the record: "I am extremely delighted to announce that my new album is now finished and will be released at the beginning of November by Conehead Records. "Alvin" is a new and exciting departure for me and I'm immensly proud of the finished product."

Rolling Stone Keith Richards described him as "the Godfather of British Rock 'n' Roll".

He was born Bernard Jewry in the East End of London, 1942, hits included 'My Coo Ca Choo', 'Jealous Mind' and 'I Feel Like Buddy Holly'.

Starting his singing career in the 60's he also made appearances in Hollyoaks, The Grimly's and Doctors and appeared on stage in the musicals Godspell, The Phantom of the Opera and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Before reinventing himself as Alvin Stardust in the 1970s, he recorded under the name Shane Fenton with his band the Fentones.

In 2011, Stardust made a return to the stage as a singer rather than an actor, and was due to play the Arts Guild Theatre in Greenock on 28 October.