Former punk star Poly Styrene, who fronted X-Ray Spex, has died after a battle with cancer.

The singer, whose real name was Marianne Elliot Said, released a new album, Generation Indigo, only last month.

Ms Styrene who notably appeared on TV and in publicity shots with braces on her teeth – scored hits with tracks such as Germ Free Adolescents and Oh Bondage Up Yours.

The singer died on Tuesday at the age of 53.

A statement announcing her death said: “We can confirm that the beautiful Poly Styrene, who has been a true fighter, won her battle on Monday evening to go to higher places.”

She revealed she was battling breast cancer earlier this year in an interview about her relationship with daughter Celeste, timed to promote her new album.

Ms Styrene disappeared from the spotlight for many years after becoming a Hare Krishna devotee in 1983, although she has made occasional returns to performance.

Her diagnosis with bipolar disorder also contributed to her withdrawal.

Born in Bromley, southeast London, which became a crucible for many of punk’s movers and shakers, the half-Somali star ran away from home when she was 15 to hitch between music festivals.

Her first release was a reggae track under her own name in 1976, but she went on to form X-Ray Spex after seeing a Sex Pistols concert in Hastings.

Unusually for an early punk act, the line-up included a sax player.

In the past decade she had made more solo recordings, teamed up with members of X-Ray-Spex to perform debut album Germ Free Adolescents in its entirety and worked with producer Youth to make her well-received comeback album Generation Indigo.