Luciano Pavarotti dies, aged 71

The Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti passed away last night aged 71 after losing his battle with pancreatic cancer.

The singer's manager Terri Robson announced the news at the star's home in Modena, Italy. Robson said in a statement: "The Maestro fought a long, tough battle against the pancreatic cancer which eventually took his life.

"In fitting with the approach that characterised his life and work, he remained positive until finally succumbing to the last stages of his illness."

Pavarotti caught the public's attention after a late stand-in appearance at London's Covent Garden in 1963, and was famed for his success at hitting nine high Cs during a performance of 'Daughter of the Regiment' in 1972.

The star's last performance came at the Winter Olympics in Turin in 2006, where he performed a rendition of Puccini's 'Nussun Dorma'. He had hoped that he would overcome his battle with cancer so he could complete his Worldwide Farewell Tour.

He is survived by his wife Nicoletta Mantovani, their four-year-old daughter, Alice and three daughters from his first marriage.