He was sidelined from the Pogues and his pioneering punk band, The Radiators From Space, in 2007 after being diagnosed with cancer of the head and neck. In 2011 he was given the all-clear. But now doctors have confirmed it's returned after finding another tumour last year and surgery is impossible due to the associated risks.

A statement says: "In August 2012, Philip and his doctors noticed a new tumour in a position whereby treatment is seriously ill-advised, and would almost certainly cause a stroke or worse.