Longmuir (second from left) with the band in 1975 PA Images PA Images

ONE OF THE founding members of Scottish band the Bay City Rollers has died.

Bass player Alan Longmuir was 70. The Edinburgh native died following a short illness.

The band were hugely popular in the 1970s, hitting the charts with songs such as I Only Wanna Be With You, Bye Bye Baby and Shang-A-Lang.

Bay City Roller Alan Longmuir (right) has died. Andrew Milligan / PA Images Andrew Milligan / PA Images / PA Images

Writing on Twitter, the director of a musical I Ran With The Gang that features all the band’s hits Liam Rudden said: “Devastated by the news my friend Alan Longmuir has left us.

He was one of the most gentle, generous and kind-hearted people I’ve ever known and touched the lives of all he met with a smile that made them feel special.

Despite being the founder, he wasn’t a constant presence in the band but original members Les McKeown and Stuart Wood joined Longmuir for a reunion tour in 2015.

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