TRIBUTES have been paid to Prestwich punk legend and frontman of The Fall Mark E Smith.

The musician died at home, aged 60, on Wednesday morning.

His cause of death is unknown, however, the band had been forced to cancel several tour dates in the last year owing to Mr Smith's on-going health problems.

The latest entry on The Fall's official website, posted on January 24, simply read "RIP Chief".

In a statement, Pam Vander, Mr Smith's partner and manager of The Fall, said: "It is with deep regret that we are announcing the passing of Mark E Smith. He passed this morning at home.

"A more detailed statement will follow in the next few days. In the meantime, Pam and Mark's family request privacy at this sad time."

In an online tribute, Mr Smith's former wife and ex-band member Brix Smith Smart, added: "I'm taking the news in right now. I will put a statement out tomorrow.

"I hope you will all understand. Thank you for your lovely messages, they mean a lot. I love you, Brix."

Tributes also flooded in from across the music world and beyond.

Tim Burgess, frontman of The Charlatans, tweeted: "So so sad to hear that we’ve lost Mark E Smith. A true uncompromising musical maverick. A genius, a curmudgeon and someone whose company it was an honour to share. So long M.E.S x x x"

Film writer and director Edgar Wright tweeted: "Alas, the great Mark E Smith has passed away. Not merely a legend of indie music, but someone who, for me, was a gateway into that very genre. Will be blasting the A Sides album all week now. The Fall are no more, long live the Fall!"

Independent label Damnably Records, which is home to bands including Shonen Knife and former Codeine drummer Chris Brokaw said: "Very sad news indeed. For some of us-the most important British artist of the last 40 years. A peerless, working class intellectual who never lost his edge. #markesmith #RIP."

Cedric Bixler Zavala, of At The Drive-In and The Mars Volta, tweeted: "Mark E Smith will always be one of the pillars of influence for me as lyricist and trouble maker. I’ve built trust in people based on whether they owned and actually loved Fall records. Thanks 4 making rock literary, and mischievous. RIP."

An hour long tribute on BBC Radio 6 Music was led by Bolton-born Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie, and included contributions from Brix Smith Smart, comedian Stewart Lee and the Inspiral Carpet's Clint Boon.

Inspiral Carpets also tweeted: "We are deeply saddened to hear about the death of a friend and legend of Manchester, Mark E Smith. Memories Of You."

Originally from Broughton, Salford, Mr Smith moved to Prestwich at a young age and lived there for the rest of his life.

He attended Stand Grammar School in Whitefield before dropping out aged 16 to become a shipping clerk at Salford Docks

A lover of literature Mr Smith took an evening A Level class in the subject, and listed HP Lovecraft, George Orwell and Kurt Vonnegut among his favourite authors.

He also became involved in politics, first joining the Labour Party and later the Socialist Workers Party.

After seeing the Sex Pistols play at the Manchester Free Trade Hall, Mr Smith formed The Fall in Prestwich in 1976.

The band, made up of Martin Brumah, Una Baines and Tony Friel, was named after the novel by French philosopher Albert Camus.

The group would go on to play their first gig at the North West Arts basement in Manchester, on May 23 1977.

Over a prolific career The Fall released 32 studio albums, as well as dozens of live albums and compilations, and despite multiple line-up changes Mr Smith remained the only constant member, appearing on every release.

Mr Smith also produced two spoken-words albums, had a side-project with electronic post-punk outfit Von Südenfed alongside Andi Toma and Jan St. Werner of House on Mars.

He also collaborated with artists including Gorillaz, Inspiral Carpets and Elastica.

An artistic polymath Mr Smith wrote a play Hey, Luciani and guest contributed to numerous publications including the NME.

He made several TV and film appearances over his life, including a cameo in Michael Winterbottom's 24 Hour Party People and BBC3 series Ideal, as well as being the subject of a BBC 4 documentary The Fall: The Wonderful and Frightening World of Mark E. Smith.