A musician killed himself at the idyllic treehouse studio where his band was formed.

Mark Horwood, 36, was the composer behind The Mummers, a Brighton-based group whose orchestral, fairy-tale style drew critical acclaim.

He was found hanged at his family home in Sussex, reportedly in the studio where he created the songs.

The band had last played in Brighton in April after an appearance on BBC’s Jools Holland show brought them to national attention.

Colleagues paid tribute to his talent yesterday.

Mr Horwood’s body was discovered at Westergate Street, Aldingbourne, near Chichester, early last Monday morning.

A statement on The Mummers website said: "Due to tragic and unforeseen circumstances, The Mummers will no longer be performing their planned live shows at End of the Road Festival and Bestival.

“We apologise to anyone who was planning to come and see us."

Manager Alastair Cunningham said Mr Horwood's family had asked the band not to comment publicly while they wait for the outcome of a coroner’s inquest.

Reviewers compared the band’s style to stars such as Bjork and Kate Bush, while performances at summer festivals won them a dedicated following.

The Mummers’ lead singer Raissa Khan-Panni told The Argus earlier this year about the group’s ambitions to play at the Albert Hall and how she and Mr Horwood began collaborating.

She said: “He was living in this tree-house studio he’d built himself.

“It was a magical place with all kinds of keyboards, organs and percussion and stuff.

“It was really inspiring to begin the project there.”

Several of The Mummers’ early gigs took place at Komedia in Gardner Street, Brighton.

Chris Challis, spokesman for the venue, said: “They last played here in April to a sell-out crowd who were enthralled by their music.

“It was an amazing gig.

“Our hearts and thoughts go out to them. It is incredibly sad.”

Film-maker Alex Edwards praised the work Mr Horwood contributed to his projects.

He said: “As a muscian Mark Horwood took the audience into his magical fairy-tale world.

“As a film composer he touched the audience with pure genius.

“As a man Mark was loving and gentle. He will be greatly missed."

A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: "We were called to the sudden death of a man on September 7 at 7am.

”There were no suspicious circumstances."

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