KING of skiffle Lonnie Donegan died after collapsing just hours before he was due to take the stage in York.

The 71-year-old star, who had suffered a series of heart attacks and had been complaining of back trouble, died in Peterborough on Sunday, midway through a UK tour.

The star, whose hits included Cumberland Gap and My Old Man's A Dustman, was due to play at the Grand Opera House in front of a sell-out audience on Sunday night.

His agent Mike Stephens told the Evening Press that family, friends and fellow musicians were "dreadfully upset" by the death of a legend.

He said: "The most important thing is that he has gone, his family is suffering at the moment. This has come completely out of the blue because he was a fit guy."

Celestine Dubruel, of the Grand Opera House, said the news had come as a "terrible shock".

She said: "It would have been a pleasure having him play here - he has incredible support, as the sell-out crowd shows."

She added that everyone who had bought a ticket to the York show had been informed and would receive a full refund. The Grand Opera House was told on Friday he would not be able to play there as scheduled on Sunday and last night due to a slipped disc, and did not hear of his death until yesterday.

A record company spokeswoman said: "In a career that covered over 50 years, he inspired nearly every major musician alive today."

Updated: 11:26 Tuesday, November 05, 2002