Rock singer Paul Young, who starred with Mike and the Mechanics and Sad Café, has died from a suspected heart attack.

The 53-year-old vocalist, who enjoyed a string of chart successes in the 1970s and 80s, collapsed at his home in Altrincham, Cheshire, a spokesman for his record company, Virgin, said.

The father-of-three was dead on arrival at Wythenshawe Hospital on Saturday evening.

Young made his name with Sad Café after beginning his career on the German club circuit.

The band released their first album in 1977, but it was their second long player, Misplaced Ideals, which brought worldwide success.

The single Run Home Girl was a big hit in the US, while Everyday Hurts reached number three in the UK charts.

Hit singles

Other hit singles followed, including Strange Little Girl and My Oh My, but the band never recaptured their past glories.

In 1985, Young teamed up with Mike Rutherford and Paul Carrack to form Mike and the Mechanics.

The band reached number two in the UK with the single The Living Years in 1989 and also enjoyed top 20 hits with Word Of Mouth in 1991 and 1995's Over My Shoulder.

Young was looking forward to going on tour with them later this month and had recently returned from gigging in Switzerland with fellow rock stars Dave Gilmour from Pink Floyd and his namesake, 80s singer Paul Young.

Rutherford said he was stunned by his bandmate's death.

"We are all shocked and devastated by Paul's death. He had a fantastic voice, one of the best rock voices of his generation, and aside from his musical talent, he had such an infectious enthusiasm for the business.

"Paul loved performing, we all thought he would be singing in 50 years time. This is a terrible loss."