FANS of music legend Morrissey have told of the moment the star collapsed, one song into his Saturday night gig at the Oasis The former Smiths frontman, who is 50, was released from the Great Western Hospital yesterday having spent the night there.

Paul Harmer, 43, of Freshbrook was one of the audience of 3,000 sent home after being told that the singer was seriously ill.

Mr Harmer, a television executive, said: “I didn’t think it was going ahead at all because I checked out the web forums about his gig the night before in which fans said in Birmingham he cut the gig short and couldn’t hit a high note.

“And although I must say he was carrying some weight, and looked his age, he came on stage and sang the first song quite well.”

Morrissey came on stage at 9pm. Before breaking into song he said to the audience: “Good evening... possibly”.

Some said he appeared to be straining and wincing as he sang the words but others told the Adver he sang well before collapsing. Just as he hit the final notes, his knees buckled and he slumped to the stage.

Morrissey’s assistant tour manager Charlie Browne and a member of the technical crew rushed to his side and dragged the singer off stage, immediately followed by the backing band. The stage lights went up to calls and boos from the audience.

Paul added: “Although most people were quite worried there were some people that became enraged – throwing beer – but it was a small minority.”

Moments later a stage hand said: “We will keep you informed of what’s happening”.

An agonising 25 minutes later, a second stage hand came to the microphone and said: “Morrissey has left the building. He is seriously ill.”

Some fans burst into tears and begged for more news.

Teresa Harding, the on-call manager at Great Western Hospital, said: “Morrissey became unwell and was admitted overnight as a precautionary measure. He was seen by the medical team. He is much improved and he has now been discharged home.”

The hospital refused to go into details about the nature of his condition for reasons of patient confidentiality.

Earlier this year Morrissey cancelled dates in Bristol, London and Birmingham because of a throat infection.