Barron Knights singer dies at 66

Duke D'Mond, the former lead singer of comedy pop group The Barron Knights, has died at the age of 66.

D'Mond, real name Richard Palmer, died on 9 April in hospital in Oxford after he had a heart attack before developing pneumonia, the band's website said.

The group had UK hits in the 1960s, 70s and 80s with satirical songs and parodies of the work of other artists.

Other members of the band were "devastated at losing a friend", a statement said.

'Great voice'

Founder member Pete Langford said that, after having a fall four years ago, D'Mond stopped performing with the band.

"We missed him such a lot - he was the guy who sang all the serious stuff," he told the BBC News website.

"He had a great voice and he was part of the team for 46 years."

The Barron Knights, who toured with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, are best known for their 1964 hit Call Up The Groups - written in response to the end of national service in the UK.

The group, who still perform in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, last had a top 40 hit in 1980 with Never Mind The Presents.