Fleetwood Mac star Christine McVie died of an “ischemic stroke”, it has been revealed.

The British singer-songwriter died in November last year following a “short illness” at the age of 79.

The performer first found stardom in the blues band Chicken Shack.

Her death certificate, obtained and shared by US outlets, listed the stroke as one of the primary causes of her death, alongside “atrial fibrillation” and “large atrial thrombus”.

According to the NHS, ischemic strokes are the most common type of stroke and occur “when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain”.

Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate, and atrial thrombus is a type of blood clot, the NHS says.

Her death certificate also listed a “metastatic malignancy of unknown origin” – referring to a cancer that spreads across the body – as a secondary cause.

Christine joined Chicken Shack in 1967 before going on to be a member of Fleetwood Mac.

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Former bandmate Stan Webb paid tribute to the performer following her death.

He said: “In 1966 we talked Chris into joining Chicken Shack.

“She didn’t want to for ages and at that time there weren’t really any female band members on the British blues scene.

“I think she only joined to shut us up.

“In 1967 we played at the Star Club Hamburg for 6-7 hours a night.

“Back in the UK, we met Mike Vernon of Blue Horizon records; Fleetwood Mac and Chicken Shack used the same studios, and it was there that Chris met Peter Green and Fleetwood Mac.

“The rest is wonderful history.

“We sowed the seed and from that seed grew this massive talent".