Pogues star Shane MacGowan dies aged 65

The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan has passed away at the age of 65.

The singer-songwriter had been ill for some time.

Announcing the sad news in an Instagram post, MacGowan's wife, Victoria Mary Clarke, wrote:

"I don't know how to say this so I am just going to say it.

"Shane who will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life and the most beautiful soul and beautiful angel and the sun and the moon and the start and end of everything that I hold dear has gone to be with Jesus and Mary and his beautiful mother Therese.

"There's no way to describe the loss that I am feeling and the longing for just one more of his smiles that lit up my world.

"Thank you thank you thank you thank you for your presence in this world you made it so very bright and you gave so much joy to so many people with your heart and soul and your music.

"You will live in my heart forever. 

"Rave on in the garden all wet with rain that you loved so much"

MacGowan was born on Christmas Day 1957 in Kent, England, to his mother Therese, who was a Feis Ceoil singer, and father Maurice.

From the 1980s, he led the Irish punk band The Pogues who are best known for their hit festive song 'Fairytale Of New York' which was released in 1987.

MacGowan revealed he was diagnosed with encephalitis last year in a video posted to social media on New Year’s Eve.

It is an uncommon but serious condition in which the brain becomes inflamed, according to the NHS website.