Dario G star Paul Spencer's touching final Instagram post before dying of cancer

The music world is mourning the loss of Dario G's Paul Spencer, who has died at 53 after a courageous battle with cancer.

The iconic DJ and one-third of the legendary trio had recently expressed hope on Instagram, just weeks before his death. Paul Spencer, celebrated for his contribution to electronic music as part of Dario G, had been optimistic about his health after being discharged from The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester, where he overcame an infection last month.

However, it was sadly confirmed last night that he succumbed to stage four rectal cancer, which he had been fighting for the past year. Tributes have been pouring in on social media from fans and fellow musicians alike, paying homage to the influential artist.

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A touching statement was issued: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Paul Spencer earlier today. He was positive until the end but this was one battle he could not fight anymore. He leaves behind a wonderful musical legacy and many happy memories for many people. He will be sadly missed by everyone who loved him. Shine bright our big star - K, A and H xxx #dariog."

In his final Instagram post, a resilient Paul appeared cheerful in his hospital bed, writing: "I'm Out Out! At last. Has Anything of interest happened in the outside world from the past month? I know you've all been showing overwhelming support, love and strength for me.", reports the Mirror.

"And countless others like me. I hope and pray everyone gets their best opportunity. Thank you. I'm infection free now but feel I already have the energy to defeat this fully with the next stages, even though a little rest and recoup time might BE appreciated."

Before sharing this touching message, Birmingham Live revealed that fans had the chance to see videos from a hospital foyer where the artist showcased some of his new solo material. He is known as part of Dario G, the group that rose to fame with their 1997 hit 'Sunchyme', which just missed taking the top spot on the UK Singles Chart.

The group's moniker is a tribute to Dario Gradi, the former manager of Crewe Alexandra.

Originally, the band was made up of the trio of DJs: Scott Rosser, Stephen Spencer and Paul. They also achieved recognition with 'Carnaval de Paris', a track released in honour of the 1998 FIFA World Cup held in France.