SINGER Dusty Springfield died last night aged 59, her agent announced today.

The star, whose parents lived in Hove at the height of her fame, had been suffering from breast cancer.

Dusty clocked up a total of 17 hits throughout the Sixties, along with a series of acclaimed albums.

But the star never forgot her roots, and visited the family home in Wilbury Road whenever possible.

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Dusty's agent, Paul Fenn, said she died at her home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, at 10.40pm last night.

He said: "She was one of the icons of the music industry. She was one of the most talented female singers of this century."

Dusty, who was born Mary O'Brien, had a string of hit singles in the early Sixties with folk trio the Springfields, which included herbrother Tom.

She went solo in 1963, with further hits including I Only Want To Be With You and the chart-topping You Don't Have To Say You Love Me.

One of the first female pop icons, she became known for her glitzy gowns, peroxide-blonde beehive and smudgy made-up eyes.

Dusty left Britain in 1970 and lived in Los Angeles for more than 15 years before returning in the late Eighties.

Her return saw the star becoming popular with a new generation of music fans after she teamed up with pop duo the Pet Shop Boys for the 1987 single What Have I Done To Deserve This.

Her breast cancer was diagnosed in 1994, shortly after she recorded her most recent album, A Very Fine Love.

She underwent extensive chemotherapy until 1995, when she was diagnosed as being clear. But the following year the cancer returned.

Dusty, who was awarded an OBE in January this year, is one of 45 stars nominated by Argus readers to be included in the Hollywood-style Walk Of Fame, due to be unveiled at Brighton Marina in January 2000.

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