Braintree music star Keith Flint was in several million pounds’ worth of debt by the time he passed away earlier this year, it has emerged.

New numbers from the Probate Office have found the late Prodigy frontman owed roughly £7.3 million in debts and taxes when he took his own life aged 49.

A friend found Keith hanged at home on March 4.

Days earlier, the Firestarter singer had put his £1.5 million Dunmow mansion up for sale.

An inquest at Chelmsford coroner’s court heard that cocaine, codeine and alcohol were in his system when he died.

Official figures reveal the singer’s estate was worth £11.6 million at the time. But once his affairs were posthumously settled, his fortune was reduced to £4.3 million.

Keith’s funeral was held in Braintree at the end of March, with thousands of locals gathering alongside Prodigy fans from around the country to say goodbye.

Keith’s former manager John Fairs was quoted in the eulogy as saying: "I will remember him forever. He wasn't seduced by fame or fortune. Thank you for giving me shivers of fear and delight because of the venom in your performance.

"I have never known anyone with as much fire and energy as you. I will miss you terribly."

There have since been calls for a memorial to Keith to be put up in the town centre.

A few days before his death, Keith took part in the Chelmsford Central parkrun, clocking a personal best time of 21 minutes and 22 seconds.