Chris Rea, whose festive hit Driving Home For Christmas has become a seasonal classic, has died at the age of 74, his family has announced.The Middlesbrough-born singer found fame in the 1970s and 1980s, becoming a huge star by the time he released his eighth album in 1986.He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had his pancreas removed in 2001. Despite suffering a stroke in 2016, he continued to tour after releasing his 2017 album Road Songs For Lovers.He is survived by his wife Joan and daughters Josephine and Julia.
