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Tributes have been paid to a popular blind busker described as a “hero” on the London Underground.

Mark Campbell, famed for his legendary whistles at some of London’s busiest Tube stations, died on Wednesday at his home in Wolverhampton, friends said. He was in his 50s.

Mr Campbell, who has been blind since birth, is understood to have joined Transport for London’s busking scheme in 2006 and regularly performed at Canary Wharf, St Paul’s, Liverpool Street and Green Park stations.

Videos of his performances have racked up thousands of views on YouTube.

Friend Stephen Emson, who saw Mr Campbell at his bedside hours before his death, described him as a legend on the Tube.

He told the Standard: “Mark was one of the heroes of the underground. He seemed invincible, never got ill and nothing it seemed could dampen his spirit, except hot weather.

“He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of almost any subject which made him interesting and entertaining company while changing over pitches or at the Doric Arch pub next to Euston station, where he would often go for a drink after whistling to the "dear coves" on the underground all day.

“He was a very popular man and had a large circle of close friends. He'll be sorely missed.”

Busker Fabio Monteiro added: “I occasionally met Mark during pitch changes. He was always happy and positive.

“Every time I remember him is that strong deepy bluesman voice tone. Though I've never heard him singing his whistling was quite remarkable. It's very sad news he's passed away.”

Composer and filmmaker Ben Till, who captured Mr Campbell’s underground busking, said: “He was a true legend, a proud Midlander and loved by almost all tube-travelling Londoners.

“He was a wonderful man.”

In December 2012, Mr Campbell told the BBC he found his calling as a busker after he walked by a musician in Shrewsbury in the 1990s.

He said he earned £36.80 after 90 minutes in his first performance and made the trip to London four days a week from his home in Wolverhampton after he joined TfL’s busking scheme.

He told the BBC: “The weekly giro I'd been getting was something like £38. so in an hour and a half I did a couple of quid less than the cheque that was meant to last me the whole week.

"The next day I went to the same spot, this time for three and a half hours. I got £90. That was it, I didn't look back - you could earn proper money."