Rolling Stones support Mick

Sir Mick Jagger's bandmates have issued words of support in the wake of his partner L'Wren Scott's death.

The 49-year-old fashion designer was found dead in her Manhattan, New York City, apartment by her assistant on Monday, after committing suicide.

Mick had been in a relationship with her for 13 years and was with his band The Rolling Stones in Australia, where they were preparing for seven On Fire shows which have since been called off, when he heard the news.

"This is such terrible news and right now the important thing is that we are all pulling together to offer Mick our support," Ronnie Wood said today.

Guitarist Keith Richards also released a statement: "No-one saw this coming. Mick's always been my soul brother and we love him. We're all feeling for the man."

"Needless to say we are all completely shocked but we have to do what is right in these sad circumstances," drummer Charlie Watts added.

Mick, 70, released his own statement via his website yesterday. It was accompanied by a picture of L'Wren smiling and in it he admitted he was struggling to understand how she "could end her life in this tragic way".

His daughters Elizabeth, 30, and 22-year-old Georgia May are said to be offering him support at the moment, as are the members of the team in Australia with The Rolling Stones. British newspaper The Mirror claims the rocker is struggling to sleep and feeling "tormented" over the loss of his partner.

Shortly after the news of L'Wren's passing was made public, it was suggested her high-end fashion business was experiencing financial difficulties, with records filed late last year showing it was millions of dollars in debt.

Acclaimed fashion writer Cathy Horyn has penned a piece about the late designer for the New York Times, in which she alleges L'Wren was planning to announce she was shutting the company today.

"I sent her text on March 12, checking in. She didn't reply, but that wasn't unusual. I learned since her death that she was planning to close her business, with an announcement on Wednesday. Still, as painful as the decision must have been for her, I wouldn't draw any conclusions from it about her state of mind. Nor should any credence be given to reports of a breakup with Mick. It's rubbish," she wrote.

"She was with friends on Sunday night, and, yes, they were deeply concerned about her, but, no, they didn't think she would do something so desperate. Not L'Wren."