The Monkees frontman Davy Jones dies at 66

Medical officials in Florida have not commented on the cause of death, but a spokesman for the star said he had suffered a heart attack.

The Monkees hits include Last Train to Clarksville, Daydream Believer and I'm A Believer.

The Monkees sold millions of records after being put together to star in their self-titled TV show between 1966 and 1968.

The group split in 1971 but Jones, who lived in Hollywood, Florida, got back together with Dolenz and Tork last year to play a series of gigs.

Although The Monkees had nine top-40 hits in their heyday, they were criticised for being a manufactured group. Californian band The Byrds mocked them in their single So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star.

However, they made efforts to prove themselves by writing more of their own songs and starring in a 1960s cult film, Head, with Jack Nicholson.

In the early 1960s, Jones had appeared as Ena Sharples' grandson in Coronation Street and also starred in British series Z-Cars.

He briefly left showbusiness to train as a jockey - and would continue to race horses later in life - but returned to acting with a role in a stage production of Oliver.

From the West End he followed the show to Broadway where he built up an acting career and went on to audition for The Monkees.

Jones is survived by his third wife, Jessica, and four daughters.