SIR Paul McCartney said the death of George Harrison, from cancer at the age of 58, was like losing his baby brother.

Speaking this morning Paul McCartney said: "I am devastated and very, very sad. We knew he'd been ill for a long time.

"He was a lovely guy and a very brave man and had a wonderful sense of humour. He is really just my baby brother."

News that George Harrison had died was broke in Los Angeles at 9.30 last night UK time by longtime friend Gavin De Becker who told The Associated Press.

"He died with one thought in mind - love one another," De Becker said. Harrison's wife Olivia and son Dhani, 24, were with him.

Paul McCartney spoke from outside his home in St John's Wood, north-west London, Sir Paul, whose wife Linda died of cancer in 1998, said: "He will be missed sorely by all his friends and loved ones.

"I'd like to ask that everyone, mainly the media, treats Olivia and Dhani with great kindness at this very difficult time."

An emotional Sir Paul went on: "I've known George forever and he's a really beautiful guy who I love dearly.

"I remember all the beautiful times we had together and I'd like to remember him like that because I know he would like to be remembered like that.

"He was a great guy, full of love for humanity but he didn't suffer fools gladly. He's a great man. He'll be sorely missed by everyone."

Sir Paul said he heard the news of his death last night and that the last time he saw him was a few weeks ago.

He said: "He had a long battle with his cancer and I saw him a few weeks ago and he was full of fun and he always was. He's a brave lad.

"To me he's just my little baby brother - we grew up together and I knew him in my old home town of Liverpool and we just had so many beautiful times together and that's what I'm going to remember him by.

"A lovely guy who is full of humour as I was saying.

"When I saw him last time he was obviously very unwell but he was cracking jokes like he always was and he'll be sorely missed.

"He's a beautiful man. The world will miss him."

Sir Paul said that although he knew that Harrison had been ill for quite some time he had always hoped that some kind of miracle might happen.

Shortly afterwards McCartney drove away from his home with his fiancee Heather Mills in a blue Mercedes.

Harrison, 58, lead guitarist in the world's most famous band, had fought a long battle against cancer.

The former smoker suffered lung and throat tumours and more recently underwent treatment for a growth on his brain.

Harrison died at 9.30 last night UK time at a friend's Los Angeles home, longtime friend Gavin De Becker told The Associated Press.

"He died with one thought in mind - love one another," De Becker said.

Harrison's wife Olivia and son Dhani, 24, were with him.

The musician's death leaves two surviving members of the Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. John Lennon was shot dead by a deranged fan in 1980.

In 1998, when Harrison disclosed that he had been treated for throat cancer, he said: "It reminds you that anything can happen."

The following year, he survived an attack by an intruder at his mansion in Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire.

He was stabbed several times and suffered a punctured lung.

In July, he released a statement asking fans not to worry about reports that he was still battling cancer.

Discography - Albums

1968 Wonderwall

1969 Electronic Sound Albums

1970 All Things Must Pass

1972 The Concert For Bangladesh (with other artists)

1973 Living In The Material World

1974 Dark Horse

1975 Extra Texture

1976 Thirty Three And A Third

1977 The Best Of George Harrison

1979 George Harrison

1981 Somewhere In England

1982 Gone Troppo

1987 Cloud Nine

1989 Best Of Dark Horse 1976-1989

1992 Live In Japan