Kenny Lynch: Up On The Roof singer and Carry On star dies

Singer and actor Kenny Lynch, who was known for his 1960s hit Up On The Roof, has died aged 81.

Appearing in variety shows throughout the 1960s, and touring with The Beatles in 1963, he was one of the few high-profile black British singers of the swinging sixties.

The news was announced by his daughters on his Twitter page, alongside photos of Lynch as a young actor and later in life with his children.

Thanking the NHS and the charity Sue Ryder, they said he died in the early hours of the morning, and "will be remembered and missed by many".

The post ended: "Bye Dad, we will love you always".

Tributes have been paid by stars including Boy George, Gary Lineker and Danny Baker.

Lineker, who played golf with Lynch, called him a "delightful, funny, talented man", joking that it was a pleasure to be in his company, despite his bad time-keeping.

A keen golfer, Lynch also played with longtime friend and comedian Jimmy Tarbuck, who he also toured with just last year.

Singer Boy George said Lynch was an "absolutely huge part of my 70s life".

Danny Baker called him a "huge talent, a pioneer and tremendous company", and shared black and white film footage of the star rolling round the streets of Soho in a Rolls Royce visiting record shops.

Achieving two top 10 hits during his singing career, Up On The Roof and You Can Never Stop Me Loving You, Lynch also wrote for stars including Cilla Black and Small Faces.

In 1962 he made a bid to represent Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song There's Never Been A Girl, but didn't make it through to compete in the show.

In 1963 he appeared alongside The Beatles on their first British tour, becoming the first artist to cover one of their songs the same year when he re-recorded Misery from their debut album Please Please Me.

Acting as well as singing, he also appeared in 1970 Pinewood Studio classic, Carry On Loving, and later wrote the theme music for Carry On Emmannuelle, Love Crazy.

He also starred alongside Warren Mitchell in the film The Alf Garnett Saga, and the short-lived sitcom Curry And Chips with Spike Milligan.

He was awarded an OBE for services to entertainment by the Queen in 1970.

Lynch was one of 13 children, born of Caribbean and Irish heritage in Stepney, east London.

Leaving school at 15, he did his national service in the army, becoming the regiment featherweight boxing champion, before going on to be a professional singer.

His older sister Gladys also went into showbiz, performing under the stage name Maxine Daniels.

His last film was the 2007 thriller The Riddle, starring Derek Jacobi, Vanessa Redgrave and Vinnie Jones.

Lynch leaves behind two daughters, Amy and Bobby.