Brian Travers

His bandmates said they were "devastated" by the news about "our comrade, brother, founding UB40 member and musical legend".

They said he had endured a "long and heroic battle with cancer".

He had surgery to remove two brain tumours in 2019 and reportedly had another operation earlier this year.

Travers was a key part of the UB40 line-up as a saxophone player, arranger and lyricist.

Scans revealed the founder member of the band, which formed in Birmingham, has two tumours after he suffered a seizure at home on 19 March.

He will undergo surgery on the day he was due to begin the tour.

The musician said he would "be there in spirit" and the only thing left on his bucket list was returning to music.

UB40 confirmed the tour, starting on Friday in Portsmouth, would go ahead in Travers' absence.