THE hospice that cared for a much loved rock star has hailed the flood of online donations from his fans as the biggest they have ever seen.

Tom Searle, guitarist of the Brighton-based internationally successful metal band Architects, died at the age of 28 over the weekend.

He spent his final days in the Martlets Hospice in Hove after living with melanoma skin cancer for three years.

His twin brother Dan, who is the drummer of the metalcore band who have shared stages with Metallica, posted a tribute to Tom on Facebook on Sunday. The pair grew up in Brighton and attended Varndean High School.

Dan said: "Tom was an incredible songwriter and guitarist. He was my closest and oldest friend. He was a funny, intelligent and sweet man and he leaves an enormous void in all of our lives."

Dan hailed the work of the Martlets Hospice and set up a Just Giving page in Tom's memory, which saw £15,000 of donations in the first 24 hours from Architects fans around the world.

At the time of going to press, the figure was approaching £19,000.

Dan said: "We were constantly blown away by the Martlets' compassion and hard work and we feel hugely indebted to them for ensuring we were able to make some amazing memories with Tom before he passed away."

Sally Brighton, director of income generation at the Martlets, said the donation was unprecedented.

She said: "This is by far the biggest public response to an online giving page that the Martlets has ever seen. It's unprecedented for us. We are overwhelmed and in awe.

"While the fundraising is extremely welcome, we mustn't lose sight of the tragedy behind this and our thoughts go out to the family, friends and fans of this talented young musician."

The Martlets would have to work on a fundraising event for months to raise a similar figure.

A ball at The Grand in October, which has taken a year to prepare, will raise around £30,000 while the charity's shops take on average £5,000 a week.

Ms Brighton added: "In terms of the difference this money can make it will be phenomenal. It could fund an entire salary for a member of staff, and that's a fantastic legacy to be leaving us. We are humbled."

Meanwhile, the studio where Architects rehearsed, which hosts rock artists such as Royal Blood and British Sea Power, has announced a live band fundraiser for the Martlets in Tom's memory in late October.

James Stringfellow, owner of Brighton Electric Studios in Lewes Road, said he was "crushed" when he heard of Tom's passing.

He said: "To be taken from us at the peak of his creative career, without having the time to reflect on his success and have a family of his own is a true tragedy and I'm heartbroken for him, his friends, family and everyone who has known, loved and respected him."

Elsewhere, the shop Record Junkee in Sheffield, intends to donate profits from sales of the band's music to the Martlet's Hospice.

To donate to the Just Giving page for the Martlets, visit justgiving.com/thomassearle.

BAND WERE ACQUIRED TASTE WITH MORE THAN 700,000 FANS

ARCHITECTS are a metalcore band who formed in Brighton in 2004.

Founded by twin brothers Tom and Dan Searle, who grew up in Brighton, they started as a group called Counting The Days, playing to 20 or 30 people at the now-defunct Freebutt venue in Phoenix Place.

With a few line-up changes along the way, Architects became hugely popular among an alternative hardcore scene in the city. Their sound is typified by fast guitar hooks, frenetic drumming and aggressive vocals.

They started rehearsing at Brighton Electric Studios in Lewes Road and still call it home.

They gradually started touring with bigger trucks and more crew as their devoted fanbase grew.

The band got one of their first press cover shots in 2012, appearing on the front of Discovered magazine. The magazine’s editor, Georgia Rawson, then opened a record shop in Sheffield that is now donating proceeds from the band’s music to the Martlets Hospice.

Tom was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in 2013. He was given the all-clear but the disease returned.

While their heavy style is an acquired taste, their Facebook page is liked by more than 700,000 fans and the band have 132,000 followers on Twitter. Their seventh album, All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, released in May this year, peaked at 15 in the UK charts.

Architects have played numerous rock festivals and shared stages with bands such as US legends Metallica and Sheffield rockers Bring Me The Horizon. The band intends to future of Architects is not clear, though the band aim to honour upcoming shows including at headline Brixton Academy in London, playing to 6,000 people.