Amy Winehouse found dead

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TROUBLED pop star Amy Winehouse has been found dead at her home in Camden, north London.

The Rehab singer, 27, was discovered at the property in north London by emergency services at around 3.54pm this afternoon.

A police statement said: "Police were called by London Ambulance Service to an address in Camden Square NW1 shortly before 16.05hrs today, Saturday 23 July, following reports of a woman found deceased.

"On arrival officers found the body of a 27-year-old female who was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Enquiries continue into the circumstances of the death. At this early stage it is being treated as unexplained."

Sources say the talented star died of a suspected overdose.

A spokesman for the late singer said: "Everyone involved with Amy is shocked and devastated. Our thoughts are with her family and friends. The family will issue a statement when ready."

He confirmed that Winehouse's father, Mitch, was aware of his daughter's death and was on his way back from New York.

Amy had recently cancelled all tour dates and engagements after a series of erratic public appearances.

But she appeared with her goddaughter Dionne Bromfield earlier this week at the iTunes festival where she urged the crowd to buy the young singer's album.

In one of her latest performances in Belgrade, Serbia, Amy staggered on stage an hour late, appearing drunk and incoherent.

Her 'performance' was booed by 20,000 irate fans - some who paid a week's salary to see her. Scores walked out in disgust.

Amy had battled drink and drugs problems throughout her career.

She acknowledged struggling with eating disorders and told a newspaper that she had been diagnosed as manic depressive but refused to take medication.

Soon she became more famous for her erratic behaviour, cancelled concerts and drink-and-drug-fuelled nights than her music, being frequently snapped looking worse for wear.

Amy also appeared unhealthily thin, with scabs on her face and marks on her arms, wearing scruffy clothes.

And her distinctive jet-black beehive hairstyle, thick eye make-up and many tattoos were her trademark.

The star's managers went to increasingly desperate lengths to keep the wayward star on the straight and narrow.

In 2010, Winehouse pleaded guilty to assaulting a theatre manager who asked her to leave a family Christmas show because she'd had too much to drink.

She was given a fine and a warning to stay out of trouble by a judge who praised her for trying to clean up her act.

She also had troubled relationships with Pete Doherty and Blake Fielder-Civil.

She wed Fielder-Civil in May 2007 in Miami.

It is alleged that he introduced the Back to Black star to heroin and crack cocaine.

The two were also known to be violent with each other when intoxicated. They divorced in August 2009.

The star had an on-off relationship with Libertines singer Pete Doherty.

The pair posted embarrassing videos on the internet, one of them playing with newborn mice.

Recently Amy found love with horror film director Reg Traviss — and promised to come up with her long-awaited third album this year.

Sun Bizarre Editor Gordon Smart paid tribute to the Grammy winning singer saying she was a "huge, huge loss".

He said: "It's terrible news. It's a horrible thing to say but a number of times in the office over the last few months we've said that she's drinking herself to death.

"She's an incredibly talented woman who sparked a stream of female solo artists like Adele coming after her."

Smart also said the "superb" Back To Black and Frank would go down in history as classic albums

He added: "Everybody held out a lot of hope that the last couple of years she spent away from the scene writing, and she'd been over in the Caribbean, we hoped that would generate new material that she could concentrate on.

"But I'm afraid her demons were too strong for her."

Radio DJ Fearne Cotton said: "Can not believe the news. Amy was a special girl. The saddest news."

Singer and presenter Myleene Klass wrote: "OMG. Amy Winehouse. Exceptional talent and really nice lady. RIP."

Presenter Phillip Schofield added: "Just heard the sad news that Amy Winehouse has died. At only 27 what a terrible waste of a great talent. Sincere condolences to her family."

Singer and radio presenter Emma Bunton said: "Such sad news about Amy Winehouse. My thoughts are with her family."

Ex-PM Gordon Brown's wife Sarah said: "sad sad news of Amy Winehouse - great talent, extraordinary voice, and tragic death, condolences to her family."

Producer Salaam Remi, who worked on Winehouse's albums Frank and Back To Black, wrote on Twitter: "Very Very Sad Day. Just lost a Great Friend and a Sister."

He added: "RIP my baby SiS Cherry Winehouse. Love ya always."

Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood was dedicating his show on Absolute Radio this evening to Winehouse, and also tonight's reunion performance by his former group The Faces in Hurtwood, Surrey.

He said: "It's a very sad loss of a very good friend I spent many great times with."

Fans laid flowers and candles at the edge of the police cordon.

One read: "You will not be forgotten by Camden — we all love you and continue to LOVE YOU."

"It's not really a shock, it was to be expected sooner or later. She was 27, and all good rock stars go at 27. She was very talented, she was amazing."

Jann Meyer, 33, who lives nearby, said he saw Winehouse around quite often.

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she saw the singer's grief-stricken boyfriend on the ground outside the house.

Two women then came "speeding" up in a black Mercedes and walked in and out of the house crying.

They said they believed the singer was at home last night.

Ron Brand, who had known Winehouse for about three years, said: "It's a tragic loss. She was beautiful, 

talented of course, and gentle. I loved her."

Mr Brand, father of comedian Russell Brand, said he believed she was no longer on drugs.

Amy joins the notorious '27 Club' of musicians who have died at that age after struggling to cope with fame.

They include Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who shot himself in 1994, guitarist Jimi Hendrix, who choked to death in 1970 after mixing wine with sleeping pills and Doors star Jim Morrison, who died of heart failure in 1971.

Rolling Stone Brian Jones, who drowned in a swimming pool in 1969, and singer Janis Joplin, who suffered a suspected heroin overdose the same year, are also members.

Amy is survived by her father, Mitchell, mother, Janis, and older brother, Alex.