THE mother of a Blackwood musician has died just days after he pulled out of a concert.

Manic Street Preachers bassist Nicky Wire was unable to perform at the BBC Biggest weekend on May 25 due to "a serious family illness".

His brother Patrick has announced that their mother Irene Jones died from leukaemia.

In a previous interview her son Patrick said that Mrs Jones, who lived in Blackwood, was evacuated from London when she was about five-years-old.

She came to stay in Bargoed in the Second World War with a family, she never went home.

Mrs Jones was at the forefront of a campaign to save St David’s Wood from the axe when the Blackwood bypass was built.

She wrote a book that told the story of her dog Sam’s life and his part in the protests. 

Cllr Kevin Etheridge said: "She was a true inspiration here in the Sirhowy Valley having been a leading campaigner against the Sirhowy Enterprise Way and to save St David's Wood.

"I remember her total support when Carl Taylor I and other Campaigners chained ourselves to the Council Office Railings overnight."

"My deepest condolences to all the family, she will be sadly missed."