George Michael's sister, Melanie Panayiotou, has died aged 55, exactly three years after her brother.

Axar.az reports citing foreign media.

The family confirmed in a statement that Melanie "passed away suddenly" over Christmas.

Her brother, pop icon George Michael, also died on Christmas Day 2016 at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

"We would simply ask that the family's privacy be respected at this very sad time," the family said in a statement released through lawyer John Reid.

"There will be no further comment," they added.

The Metropolitan Police also confirmed confirmed the death in a statement, which read: "Police were called by London Ambulance Service at approximately 1935hrs on Wednesday, 25 December to reports of the sudden death of a woman, aged in her 50s.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious by police."

Melanie and George - whose mother Lesley died in 1997 - are survived by their father Kyriacos, known as Jack, and their oldest sister Yioda, 57.