The hair of one of Hungary's most popular pop stars has been stolen from the hospital where he died earlier this week, it has been reported.

Jimmy Zambo, 42, known by his fans as the "King", died on Tuesday after accidentally shooting himself in the head at home with a pistol.

Zambo's long hair was shaved off before surgeons could operate on his brain, although they failed to save him.

The hair has now disappeared, the Hungarian daily newspaper Blikk said, quoting hospital officials.

Singer of the year

Zambo's fans have said they would pay large amounts of money for the star's hair.

According to police reports, Zambo fatally wounded himself in the head at his home in Budapest in the early hours of the morning.

He had fired his 9mm Beretta out of a window but failed to realise a bullet was still in the chamber when pulling the trigger a second time.

Zambo was voted Hungary's singer of the year in 1993 and had won awards for the best record of the year on several occasions.

His 2000 album Christmas With Jimmy has been Hungary's top-selling record for many weeks.

Platinum

Since March 2000, Zambo had also hosted his own popular show on commercial TV station RTL-Klub.

"He was one of the most professional showmen with whom it was always a pleasure to work," commented Imre Szabo Stein, RTL-Klub's director of communications.

The singer, whose real first name was Imre, had won the hearts of many Hungarians since coming to prominence.

He started his singing career in the State Radio Children's Choir.

From 1982-86 he moved to the US to try his luck on the club circuit before returning to Hungary. All his albums since have gone platinum.

Zambo is survived by his wife and three sons.