Ambulance Service unable to help Winehouse

London Ambulance Service has this afternoon confirmed the death of soul singer Amy Winehouse.

The 27-year-old was found dead at her flat in Camden Square, London, by emergency services at around 3.54pm this afternoon.

Two ambulance crews arrived at the scene within five minutes and a cycle responder also attended, according to a spokeswoman.

“Sadly the patient had died,” she added.

It is understood that her death is being treated as “unexplained”.

A section of the road where the singer lived remained cordoned off tonight.

Journalists, local residents and fans gathered at the police tapes. Forensic officers were seen going in and out of the building.

Fans began to lay flowers at the edge of the police cordon.

Jann Meyer, 33, who lives nearby, said he saw Winehouse around quite often.

“It’s not really a shock, it was to be expected sooner or later. She was 27, and all good rock stars go at 27. She was very talented, she was amazing.”

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she saw the singer’s grief-stricken boyfriend on the ground outside the house.

Two women then came “speeding” up in a black Mercedes and walked in and out of the house crying.

They said they believed the singer was at home last night.

Ron Brand, who had known Winehouse for about three years, said: “It’s a tragic loss. She was beautiful, talented of course, and gentle. I loved her.”

Mr Brand, father of comedian Russell Brand, said he believed she was no longer on drugs.

Winehouse now joins the notorious '27 Club' of musicians who have died at that age after struggling to cope with fame.

They include Rolling Stone Brian Jones, who drowned in a swimming pool in 1969; guitarist Jimi Hendrix, who choked to death in 1970 after mixing wine with sleeping pills; and singer Janis Joplin, who suffered a suspected heroin overdose the same year.

Doors star Jim Morrison, who died of heart failure in 1971, and Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain, who shot himself in 1994, are also members.