Winehouse family 'bereft' at death

The family’s statement said: “Our family has been left bereft by the loss of Amy, a wonderful daughter, sister, niece. She leaves a gaping hole in our lives. We are coming together to remember her and we would appreciate some privacy and space at this terrible time.”

Winehouse battled drink and drug problems throughout her career and news of her death was quickly followed by suggestions that it could be related to one or the other.

Superintendent Raj Kohli warned last night that it was “inappropriate” to speculate at this stage on the cause of death, which is being treated as “unexplained”.

Scotland Yard said that a post-mortem examination will not be scheduled before tomorrow.

The singer’s grief-stricken mother Janis told the Sunday Mirror she had seen her daughter the day before she was found dead.

She said: “She seemed out of it. But her passing so suddenly still hasn’t hit me.”

The performer had said “I love you” at the end of a day out together, and her mother said she would always treasure those words.

Father Mitch, who flew back from New York when he heard the news, said: “This isn’t real. I’m completely devastated.”

Celebrities including former drug addict Russell Brand, Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood and producer Mark Ronson have all paid tribute to the multi-award winning performer.

Brand called her “a genius” and said addiction should be treated like a potentially fatal illness.

Wood performed with The Faces last night and dedicated I Would Rather Go Blind to her. He said: “Such a beautiful singer, such a waste.”

Today an increasing number of tributes had been left at the edge of police cordons surrounding the singer’s north London home, including alcoholic drinks and cigarettes, alongside soft toys, flowers and candles.

Pieces of artwork had also been laid down, including a striking photo of Winehouse posing in a bar, and a picture by artist Mysterious Al, showing Winehouse’s face with monochrome cartoon eyes and a white streak in her trademark beehive hair.

Many notes were also left, one reading: “Too fragile, too beautiful, too big a talent for this world”, and another which said: “To an exquisite singer with a beautiful voice”.

Metropolis Music, Winehouse’s management company, released a statement saying: “We are trying to come to terms with the death of a dear friend and colleague, the most amazing artist and talent.

“We will always remember Amy as a vibrant, funny, caring young woman who made everyone around her feel welcome. We have lost a very special person, part of our family.”

The troubled Back To Black artist had cancelled all tour dates and engagements last month after a series of erratic public appearances. She was booed at a shambolic performance in Serbia.

Yesterday police and ambulance crews were called to Winehouse’s home in Camden around 4pm. A large section of the road was cordoned off and forensic officers were seen going in and out of the house.

A black private ambulance pulled up outside the house at around 8.45pm, and two men bearing a red body bag emerged minutes later.

As well as flocking to her home, fans also paid tribute at the Hawley Arms pub in Camden, once a favourite haunt of the pop star.

The pub said in a statement: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Amy’s death. Apart from her extraordinary musical talent, she was a special person with a good soul and this should not have happened.

“We feel privileged to have known her and we will sorely miss her.”

Ronson said in his statement: “She was my musical soulmate and like a sister to me. This is one of the saddest days of my life.”

Sylvia Young, of Sylvia Young Theatre School, where a young Winehouse was given a half-scholarship, described the singer as “a wild spirit” who was also “extremely bright”.

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

They include Rolling Stone Brian Jones, who drowned in a swimming pool in 1969; guitarist Jimi Hendrix, who choked to death in 1970 after mixing wine with sleeping pills; and singer Janis Joplin, who suffered a suspected heroin overdose the same year.

Doors star Jim Morrison, who died of heart failure in 1971, and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who shot himself in 1994, also died at the young age.