Mark E. Smith has died aged 60, a statement on The Fall's Twitter page has confirmed.

"It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Mark E. Smith," the short statement by The Fall's manager Pamela Vander says. "He passed this morning at home. A more detailed statement will follow in the next few days. In the meantime, Pam & Mark's family request privacy at this sad time."

Born in March 1957, Smith grew up in Salford and formed The Fall in 1976 after attending a Sex Pistols gig at the Manchester Free Trade Hall earlier that year, later giving up his job at Salford docks to devote his full attention to the band.

Smith married guitarist and former member of The Fall Brix Smith in 1983 after meeting her during the band's American tour earlier that year. They divorced in 1989 and Smith has remarried twice since.

The Fall have released 31 studio albums, with their last album release coming last year in the form of New Facts Emerge. Smith also released two solo albums.