Gerry and the Pacemakers singer Gerry Marsden, whose version of You'll Never Walk Alone became a football terrace anthem for his hometown club of Liverpool, has died at the age of 78.

Axar.az reports that friend Pete Price said on Sunday that the singer died after a short illness.

Gerry and The Pacemakers' first three singles all reached number one in the UK Official Charts.

Marsden was made an MBE in 2003 for services to charity after supporting victims of the Hillsborough disaster.

At the time, he said he was "over the moon" to have received the honor, following his support for numerous charities across Merseyside and beyond.

Price said his friend died following an infection in his heart.

"Sending all the love in the world to Pauline and his family. You'll Never Walk Alone," he wrote in a post on Twitter.