Terry Hall was diagnosed with cancer before his death

The Specials frontman Terry Hall was diagnosed with cancer shortly before his death according to his bandmate Horace Panter.

Panter, who played bass in the ska band, wrote a tribute to Hall and revealed that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after believing he was suffering with a stomach bug.

In a lengthy post, Panter detailed the last few months of Hall's life, writing: "Terry’s illness is a lot worse than we thought.

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He has been diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas which has spread to his liver. This is serious. Like life-threatening serious."

Watch: Late Specials frontman Terry Hall battled cancer and diabetes

He revealed that Hall's condition started to deteriorate earlier this month: "15th December and Manager Steve drives up to London to visit. He calls me on his return journey and says things are not looking promising. Terry is dying. The next day he is put on morphine and is more-or-less unconscious for most of the time."

Panter signed off the note by saying: "The world has lost a unique voice and I have lost a good friend."

Following Hall's death on 18 December, tributes to the musician poured in from all over the world.

Damon Albarn, who collaborated with Hall several times, said: "Terry, you meant the world to me. I love you."

Ian Brown also called Hall "a musical pioneer, a true original, one of the great frontmen, an inspiration and a lovely fella".

Billy Bragg added: "The Specials were a celebration of how British culture was invigorated by Caribbean immigration but the onstage demeanour of their lead singer was a reminder that they were in the serious business of challenging our perception of who we were in the late 1970s."

As well as fronting the Specials, Hall was a member of Fun Boy Three, Vegas and the Colourfield.