Phil Chevron, front left wearing hat, on stage with The Pogues in December 2005

Musician Phil Chevron, l ong-time guitarist with Irish folk-punk act The Pogues, has died after a battle with cancer.

The 56-year-old, who died on Tuesday, performed on some of the band's best known albums including Rum, Sodomy And The Lash and If I Should Fall From Grace With God after joining the line-up in 1984.

His death was announced on the group's website with a statement which said: " After a long illness Philip passed away peacefully this morning. We all send our sincere condolences to his family."

Chevron - whose real name was Philip Ryan - had performed with Irish punk act The Radiators From Space before joining The Pogues, fronted by Shane MacGowan.

He was treated for head and neck cancer in 2007 and was later given a clean bill of health, but the illness returned earlier this year and he had been told that operating on the tumour carried too great a risk.

Chevron also contributed banjo and mandolin to Pogues recordings.

PA Media