Cypriot George Michael has paid tribute to Amy Winehouse, describing her as “the most soulful vocalist this country has ever seen”.

In a series of messages on Twitter, the singer urged Winehouse’s record label to re-release her single  ‘Love Is A Losing Game’ to show that she was also “one of the greatest singer songwriters of all time”.

He wrote: “It’s a tragedy on two levels. Most important of course, the waste of such a young life and the pain of those who knew and loved her.

“But it’s also a tragedy for all of us that we won’t be hearing the exquisite music that she would have given us if fate had spared her life.”

Michael went on to express his condolences to Winehouse’s family.