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The world was in shock as news of the 69-year-old's death broke this morning via the iconic musician's offical Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Fans claimed the shattering news was a hoax – but their worst fears were realised after Life on Mars star's publicist confirmed his passing.

A statement issued on his Facebook page said: "David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer. While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief."

Reports suggest the music icon was suffering with cancer to the liver.

(Image: DS)

Moments later his filmmaker son Duncan Jones took to his Twitter account to tell followers of his father's death.

He posted a touching black and white photo of himself as a toddler wrapped around the shoulders of the late singer with the words: "Very sorry and sad to say it's true.

"I'll be offline for a while. Love to all."

Bowie, son to mother Margaret "Peggy" and charity worker Haywood "John" Jones, formed a number of bands after turning 16.

He called himself Davie Jones but later change his name to David Bowie – inspired by a knife developed by the 19th century American pioneer Jim Bowie – to avoid confusion with the Monkees' Davy Jones.

The Life on Mars singer released his debut album The World of David Bowie but retreated to a Buddhist monastery in Scotland in 1967 after the album failed to gain success.

He released Space Oddity on July 11, 1969 and reached international stardom with The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in 1972.

Bowie's work with Lennon on Fame earned him his first US number one in 1975.

Albums Low, Heroes and Lodger followed before he combined his music career with films in the 1980s.

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His starring role in the 1986 fantasy film Labyrinth is widely considered as a cult classic.

In 2003 he released solo album Reality to critical praise and followed it with the Mercury Music Prize nominated The Next Day – which missed out to James Blake.

(Image: PA)

Fans have been paying tribute to Bowie – who even appeared in a video game – since his passing.

Flowers have been placed in from of Bowie’s Aladdin Sane mural in his hometown of Brixton.

(Image: AFP/GETTY)

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Some fans were in tears as the reality of his passing sunk in.

The Ritzy cinema put up a tribute reading: “David Bowie. Our Brixton Boy. RIP.”

The nearby O2 Brixton Academy paid its own tribute, adding: “Forever our hero – David Bowie".