Mike Nolan - one of the original members of chart-toppers Bucks Fizz - has announced he is quitting.

Three of the original members of the group - Cheryl Baker, Jay Aston and Mike Nolan - have been performing as The Fizz since 2011.

It followed a bust-up with former original member Bobby G over the use of the band’s original name.

But now Mike - who for many years has lived in Broadstairs and regularly appeared in panto in Folkestone - has confirmed he is to leave The Fizz. It brings the curtain down on 43 years with the group in its various guises.

Speaking on BBC Radio 2 earlier today, he said: “It’s for personal reasons.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a long, long time, and I just thought, this is the time to do it."

The band shot to fame in 1981 when it won the Eurovision Song Contest with Making Your Mind Up.

The group then went on to have a string of top 10 hits with the likes of Land of Make Believe and My Camera Never Lies.

However, the band had a near-death experience in 1984 when their tour bus was involved in an horrific crash with a lorry.

Mike suffered terrible head injuries and was left in a coma for three days.

Ever since, he has suffered from memory problems, epilepsy and a loss of vision.

However, it hasn’t stopped him regularly performing with Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston who continue to tour playing the group’s biggest hits.

The two remaining members say they intend to continue to perform and will look to recruit a replacement.