Singer Gerry Rafferty dies at 63

Singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty, best known for his 1978 hit Baker Street, has died following a long illness.

The 63-year-old Scot is said to have passed away peacefully at his home in Dorset on Tuesday, with daughter Martha by his side.

It is understood that his funeral will be held in his home town of Paisley, near Glasgow, later this month.

Baker Street, with its distinctive saxophone solo, reached number 3 in the UK charts.

Rafferty, who split from wife Carla in the 1990s, was said to have earned £80,000 a year from the royalties on the song alone.

He was also a member of the band Stealers Wheel, with whom he scored another huge hit in 1972 with Stuck In The Middle With You. The song underwent a renaissance in the early 1990s after being featured in Quentin Tarantino's hit movie Reservoir Dogs.

Rafferty, who was born in Paisley on April 16, 1947, cut his teeth as a busker and also appeared with Billy Connolly's folk group the Humblebums.

His biggest success came in 1978 with his solo album City To City, which contained the single Baker Street. It proved to be an enduring radio staple.

Despite his earlier success, Rafferty suffered from well documented problems with alcohol. He was admitted to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital in November following a collapse.