Singer and songwriter Kirsty MacColl has been killed in a freak accident in Mexico.

Reports said she had been swimming in the sea when she was struck by a speed-boat.

Her management company V2 confirmed she had been killed while on holiday.

Mother-of-two MacColl, 41, had her first major hit in 1981 when "There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop (Swears He's Elvis)" reached number 14 in the charts. She also had a hit with a cover of Kinks' "Days" and recorded Christmas classic "Fairytale of New York" with Pogues in 1987.

She was the daughter of the late folk great Ewan MacColl.

A full statement is due to be released by her management company when more details are known.