Tributes have poured in for "national treasure" Cilla Black after the entertainer died at her home in the south of Spain.

The former pop star and television presenter, who lived in Estepona on the Costa del Sol, was 72.

Black - who suffered from hearing problems and arthritis - reportedly died overnight after flying to Spain with her son Robert.

Friend and fellow presenter Christopher Biggins, who starred alongside Cilla in Surprise! Surprise!, described Black as a "national treasure" adding that she will "always be with me".

"It's devastating news, really devastating," he said.

"She was a wonderful friend. She was someone who was a life force, she loved to laugh and loved to enjoy herself.

"She will always be with me. She was a national treasure."

Lord Grade, former executive chairman of ITV, said a once nervous Cilla soon gained a natural confidence in front of the cameras and went on to become an "enduring family favourite".

"A natural, natural performer of the highest quality," he told Sky News.

"One of the all time greats in showbiz.

"She always felt like a friend in your living room when she was on TV. A magical lady.

"She had a huge, huge talent once she got her confidence. She became a national favourite, an enduring family favourite."

Several national newspapers quoted a police spokeswoman as saying: "I can confirm the death of British national Priscilla White, aged 72.

"We are still awaiting autopsy results but everything at this stage is pointing towards her death being the result of natural causes."

Black transformed herself from a successful singer in the 1960s to becoming a television favourite fronting shows such as Blind Date and Surprise! Surprise!

An associate of The Beatles and their manager Brian Epstein in the early 1960s, she scored two number ones in 1964 - Anyone Who Had A Heart and You're My World - as well as enjoying many other hits, before going on to concentrate on TV.

Born as Priscilla Maria Veronica White in Liverpool, she went on to host more than 500 editions of her programmes and was the first woman to have her own prime-time chat show on BBC1.