Legacy of a 1960s pop star

Tony Jackson (far right) died in Nottingham

Part of rock and roll history ended on Wednesday when the original lead singer of 1960s band The Searchers was cremated in Nottingham.

The small chapel at Wilford Hill cemetery in Nottingham was packed with family, friends and fans, wanting to pay their last respects to Tony Jackson.

The band, whose hits included Sweets for My Sweet and Sugar and Spice sold millions of records in their heyday, even knocking The Beatles from the number one spot.

Tony Jackson was part of the original line-up but in 1964 - with the group at the top of the charts - he left.

You've got to put Tony up with the likes of Lennon Paul Francis, The Vibrations

Last week, at the age of 63, Tony Jackson died penniless in a flat in Nottingham.

It is thought years of heavy drinking contributed to his death.

His agent Tony Sherwood said: "His luck ran out when he left The Searchers.

"He never had any good luck of any sort after that."

Mike Pender, from The Searchers, said: "Tony for me was a great guy - whatever happened afterwards.

"We both parted in '64, and I met him occasionally later on, but I only remember the good times."

Paul Francis, the drummer from another of Tony Jackson's next group The Vibrations, added: "You've got to put Tony up with the likes of Lennon and all those, because he was a major influence on the all bands starting out.

"And he's left a fantastic legacy of records."