TRAGIC Amy Winehouse may have been dead for up to six hours before her body was discovered lying in bed, cops fear.
The star, 27, last spoke to her security team at 10am on Saturday. She was found at home in Camden, North London, at 4pm. Medics said she'd been dead several hours. Police sources reported no sign of drugs at the house. Amy had seen her doctor on Friday night.Amy's doctor examined her the evening before her death - and gave her the all clear.
The singer was having regular check-ups because her drink and drug battles had left her so frail.
A source said: "The doctor was happy with her condition. When he left on Friday night he had no concerns. Less than 24 hours later she was found dead.
"Amy's health has been very fragile and she has been having a series of check-ups."
Her cause of death is unlikely to be known until the police get the results of toxicology tests. That could take weeks.
But Amy's family last night said reports she had bought cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy hours before she died were "nonsense".
They added in a statement: "Our family has been left bereft by the loss of Amy, a wonderful daughter, sister, niece."
Police sources confirmed there were no signs of drugs in her three-storey house.
Amy was found dead in bed at her £2million home by her security guard Andrew Morris just before 4pm on Saturday.
Her friend and PR man Chris Goodman said: "Amy was on her own at home apart from a security guard who we had appointed to help look after her over the past couple of years.
TRAGIC singer chats about her newfound success to London cab driver
"She was in her bedroom after saying she wanted to sleep and when he went to wake her he found she wasn't breathing.
"At this stage no one knows how she died. She died alone in bed."
On Friday night Amy had been well enough to play a drum kit she had recently moved into her bedroom. The noise was so loud neighbours complained.
Heartfelt ... tributes to the star
Chris said Amy's dad Mitch and mum Janis were heartbroken.
He added: "Mitch is totally shocked but he is being very strong for everybody."
Sobbing fans left flowers and touching personal messages at a makeshift memorial across the road from Amy's house yesterday. One read: "Amy, your talent shone. Your angels will keep you safe now."
Some left empty wine glasses and even a case of Stella Artois as tributes. A dozen cigarettes were also scattered by the flowers. Amy was rarely seen without a ciggie despite having the lung disease emphysema.
Tears ... fan and picture
Susie Reynolds, 33, said: "It is a tragedy. When I heard the news I did not want to believe it. She was a genius. She was different. She was one of a kind."
Amy may have been dead for up to six hours by the time she was found by Andrew. Paramedics who were called to the house in Camden Square, North London, believed she had been dead for "several hours at least." A source said: "Rigor mortis had set in indicating she is likely to have been dead for anything up to six hours.
She is known to have been alive at 10am, when she spoke to Andrew.
Video: Amy Winehouse's last appearance
The source added: "There were no empty bottles, syringes, crack pipes or anything like that. It's not believed she had vomited.
"Her health was in a very bad state and she had been admitted to hospital by ambulance on a regular basis suffering seizures. Her nervous system was shot to pieces. The last time she was taken to hospital was about two weeks ago after the collapse of her latest tour. She was found in the street and taken to a private London clinic."
Shocked ... guard Andrew
Chris said Amy had battled hard to beat her drink and drug addictions but had suffered setbacks in recent weeks.
He added: "She was on the mend but she lapsed over the past month. Her death has come as a great shock. She was a fantastic talent and a sweet girl.
"Yes, she had her problems but she never did anyone any harm." Amy, whose second album Back To Black won five Grammy awards, is believed to have been worth around £10million. Janis told yesterday how she saw Amy the day before she died - and left her home sadly believing her death was "only a matter of time".
Grief ... Amy's dad Mitch and Reg Traviss
She added: "She seemed out of it. Her passing so suddenly still hasn't hit me."
She said that after they spent the day together Amy said: "I love you, Mum." Janis added: "They are the words I will always treasure. I'm glad I saw her when I did."
Mitch, who has launched his own career as a singer, was in New York promoting his new jazz album when he learned the terrible news that his daughter was dead.
The ex-cabbie said: "I'm coming home. I have to be with Amy. I can't crack up for her sake. My family need me."
Amy's most famous song was the autobiographical Rehab - and over the years she spent many weeks in clinics trying to wean herself off drink and drugs. She went into the Priory in an effort to clean up before the start of her recent European tour.
Copying idol ... girl fans
But she was booed off stage in Belgrade last month following a shambolic performance. Further concerts were cancelled.
Friends said Amy's most recent relapse in her addiction battle came after she split with film director boyfriend Reg Traviss.
He could no longer cope with her drinking following a series of blackouts.
Ashen-faced Reg, 32, did not comment yesterday as he left his London home to join Amy's grieving family.
Amy's former husband Blake Fielder-Civil has often been accused of getting Amy hooked on heroin and crack cocaine.
Tributes ... fans lay flowers outside Amy's home
They married in Miami in May 2007 but divorced following a stormy two-year marriage marked by violence and drug-taking.
Fielder-Civil is in prison, serving 32 months for burglary and a firearm offence.
Fans who gathered outside Amy's home yesterday made it clear they blamed Fielder-Civil for their idol's death.
Sonja Jenkins, 21, said: "She was a really great singer but was out of control.
Tragic ... Amy's body is removed from her home
"I wish she had never married Blake. Instead of trying to help her he just seemed to want to get wasted with her."
Jess Taylor, 20, added: "I hoped that when Amy divorced Blake she'd be OK. How was she ever going to get away from drugs with people like this in her life?"
Janis and Mitch spent years trying to coerce Amy into kicking drugs and drink. In 2007 Janis wrote a moving open letter to Amy, pleading for her to seek medical help.
Touching ... message from fan, and right, child's note
She said: "We'll do everything in our power to get you well again. After all, you are still my baby and you always will be."
Police are investigating the death because it is officially "unexplained."
Her final show with goddaughter Dionne
By BECI WOODAMY made her last public appearance on Wednesday - jumping on stage with her singer goddaughter Dionne Bromfield.
The tragic music legend danced with the 15-year-old and then encouraged the audience to go out and buy the teenager's album.
First pic ... sweet baby Amy in photo when she was a year old
Dionne was the support act at a concert by boyband The Wanted at The Roundhouse in Camden, North London. She and Amy later posed for a photo with the boys - believed to be her last.
The group later told of their shock. Siva Kaneswaran, 21, said: "Very sad. Feel so privileged to have met such a talent." Nathan Sykes, 17, said: "We have lost one of the most amazing singers we will witness."
Dionne insisted on playing another gig as support for the band in Pontypridd, South Wales, on Saturday - two hours after being told Amy was dead. She sang for 20 minutes, slightly short of her half-hour set.
Last pic ... smiling Amy and Dionne with The Wanted after their gig in Camden on Wednesday
Dionne has now cancelled all media commitments. She tweeted yesterday: "Forever in my heart... love you always Amy." In a message on her website she said: "I'm totally devastated. Amy was my inspiration."
A pal of her and mum Julie Din, Amy's friend, said at their home in Eltham, South London, yesterday: "It's still really raw. They're grieving."
