Christine Turner from Hodge Hill has been to the mural on Navigation Street in Birmingham to pay her respects.

"It's a sad morning," she told BBC Radio WM.

But Ms Turner has her own family connection to the heavy metal legend.

"My dad was born in February '47 and lived on Lodge Road, and as a kid growing up in the 50s, his best mate was called John Osbourne, who would grow up to be Ozzy," she said.

"He was my dad's best mate. We've been talking about him all morning. He's been part of the family."

Her dad told her about the connection when she was 17 and initially didn't believe him, until she asked her mum.

"I've dined off that for 29 years," she said.

The pair would play football near the Aston Villa ground back in the day and Ms Turner is wearing her Villa shirt today in memory of Ozzy.

When asked what her father said about what Ozzy was like, Ms Turner said: "Dad said he was great. He was a good kid, a good friend, he really was. They were thick as thieves."

These young fans are among the latest to arrive at the Black Sabbath bridge.

They've come to leave their home-made sign and flowers among the tributes left on the bench.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Earlier this month, more than 40,000 heavy metal fans made their way to Birmingham for what was described as "the greatest heavy metal show ever".

Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward played together for the first time in 20 years. The Villa Park concert also saw performances from Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Halestorm, Anthrax, Ronnie Wood, Steven Tyler and more.

Image source, bbc

Shrines to Black Sabbath appear all over the city. Fans are now visiting them to pay their respects to singer Osbourne.

Find out where they are here.

Radio 1 DJ Jack Saunders was on air last night when news broke about Ozzy Osbourne's death. He paid tribute to the Prince of Darkness by describing him as the front man of one of the most "important heavy metal bands".

Rachael Lewis
BBC Radio WM

There’s a sense of shock and sadness in Birmingham today.

Black Sabbath locations across the city are being visited by hundreds of fans paying their respects to one of their own, the Prince of Darkness.

I visited Aston this morning where Ozzy Osbourne grew up and first formed Black Sabbath alongside Bill Ward, Tonni Iommi and Geezer Butler.

His old childhood home is located on a terraced street, just five minutes walk from Villa Park.

This time three weeks ago, the area was starting to fill with excited fans ahead of the Back to the Beginning concert which was being held at the stadium.

Now, people will be visiting to pay their respects and honour Ozzy’s life.

On my way back into Birmingham, I saw several metal fans wearing band T-shirts, and others carrying flowers.

All heading into the city centre to reflect on the impact Ozzy had on so many lives, both here in his hometown, and across the globe.

Ben Hatton, chief operations officer at Villa Park who worked with the family to bring the 5 July concert to the stadium, said everyone at the club was "heartbroken".

Image source, Ross Halfin

"Eighteen days ago we all witnessed an historic night at Villa Park," he said.

"And to think we won't see them again, we won't see him again is heartbreaking."

A book of condolence will be opened at Villa Park "for Ozzy fans of Aston Villa to mark their respects."

Mervyn Purviss and wife Rosita travelled to Birmingham from Portsmouth earlier.

They said they felt like they wanted to be in the city as soon as they heard Tuesday's news of Ozzy Osbourne's death

The pair went straight to the Black Sabbath Bridge and took pictures, before going to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to see The Working Class Hero exhibition, opened by Sharon Osbourne in June, and sign a book of condolence.

Mr Purviss says he plays the guitar because of Ozzy and saw Black Sabbath for the first time in 1972 when he was 14.

Since then, he has seen them perform five or six times - including once in Las Vegas - but didn't attend the last gig in Birmingham because of the cost of the tickets.

-"It’s so fitting that it ended where it started and you can really feel the ‘Summer of Sabbath’ in Brum," he said.

Before the Back to the Beginning gig on 5 July, fans queued to have their picture taken at the Black Sabbath Bridge in Birmingham.

Now they are the bridge to pay their respects to singer Ozzy Osbourne.

Gary Holbrook said he grew up with the music of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne.

"He grew up in a similar area to me and didn’t have the best of starts to his life but he’s was just an unbelievable person just fantastic," he said.

The news of Ozzy's death had left him shocked, he added.

The producers and director of an upcoming documentary about Ozzy Osbourne have paid tribute to the Black Sabbath star.

Ozzy Osbourne: No Escape From Now was directed by Tania Alexander with Phil Alexander as one of the executive producers and they said they were heartbroken at the news.

Image source, PA Media

"Filming with him, Sharon, Aimee, Kelly and Jack for the last three-and-a-half years will always be a cherished and remarkable experience - largely because we got to regularly witness Ozzy's indomitable spirit, his mischievous, irresistible grin and his masterful display of unique one-liners.

"We will always love you dear Oz. And we send love and strength to Sharon and her family."

The documentary began filming in early 2022 and is set to air on Paramount+ later this year.

Musicians from around the globe have been paying their tributes to the artist.

"It's impossible to put into words what Ozzy Osbourne has meant to Metallica," the band said in a statement on X. "Hero, icon, pioneer, inspiration, mentor, and, most of all, friend are a few that come to mind."

AC/DC, posted Osbourne's death was a "great loss to all that loved him", while Sir Elton John, posted on Instagram: "So sad to hear the news of Ozzy Osbourne passing away.

"He was also one of the funniest people I've ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love."

Foo Fighters, wrote "Rock and Roll would not be as loud or as fun" without Osbourne while Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant said he had "truly changed the planet of rock".

Judas Priest posted: "Our hearts are broken like millions around the world – words can’t express the love and loss we are all feeling".

In a tribute attached to a bunch of flowers underneath his mural on Navigation Street in Birmingham, a fan from Bulgaria said the rock star was the reason she came to know the city.

The note said: "Such sad news that you are no longer with us.

"You were the reason why I first heard of Birmingham when I was a child who grew up to become a rock fan in Bulgaria, and one day destiny brought me to live in my hometown Birmingham.

"Thank you for the music - from me and all your fans in Bulgaria. Rest in peace Ozz."

Image source, Reuters

Jez Collins had been instrumental in prepping the city for the flood of fans attending Black Sabbath's final concert.

"I don't think there's any doubt that Birmingham can lay claim to being the birthplace of heavy metal," the founder of the Birmingham Music Archive said at the time.

He said there had been a warmth and a love in the Villa Park stadium for the gig.

"It was incredible that he managed to witness that, see that and feel that while he was still with us," he said.

It was fitting the final show had been so close to his birthplace, he added.

"At the time it just felt absolutely brilliant to see him there and to see the love of global music stars who were all around him," he said.

"It's even more poignant but fitting that was the last gig."

Jim Simpson, Black Sabbath's first manager, said Ozzy "was always one of the good guys".

[He was] a really sweet man, a really sweet natured man and always a pleasure to be with," the Birmingham music promoter said.

The last time he spent time with him was when Osbourne was given his star on Birmingham's Broad Street.

"We had tea together in the green room which was in the [International Convention Centre] across the street, just him, me and his two aunties and he was lovely towards them.

"It was: 'Auntie, would you like another cup of tea?'

"This was not the bat head biting off Ozzy Osbourne that the world knows."

The Black Sabbath lead singer inspired an Aussie fan to give up alcohol and drugs.

Phillip Clarke said: "He turned his life around for the better and I've turned my life around for the better as well - I managed to find myself without the drugs and the alcohol."

Discussing Osbourne's legacy, Mr Clarke said: "He's the godfather of heavy metal and if it wasn't for him, there wouldn't be any other rock and roll or heavy metal like Metallica, Guns N' Roses and Iron Maiden.

"It was generation after generation of heavy metal."

Fans have been queuing to pay their respects after a book of condolence was opened at Birmingham Art Gallery and Museum.

One of those who has turned up is Debbie Cerrato.

Despite being the Prince of Darkness, she said, Ozzy "brought so much light to everyone and Birmingham".

Of course it's not just Birmingham mourning the death of Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne.

He was loved across the world.

Flowers and candles have also been placed on his star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Peter Gillibrand
BBC Newsbeat

Jessica Osborne from Wolverhampton is a self-proclaimed "metal head".

She says "it adds to the emotion" that Ozzy Osborne was a local West Midlands lad.

“It’s strange to feel so strongly about someone that you don't personally know,” she says.

"I think you'd struggle to find someone that didn't know who he was," Jessica adds.

Image source, Jessica Osborne

She was also at Black Sabbath's Back to the Beginning concert earlier this month, which saw Ozzy sat on a throne.

She felt it was his last hurrah.

“To know that was towards the end of his life. It’s very emotional to think about it. Especially now to say that I was there.”

“For Ozzy to witness everybody around the world… you know, that outpouring of love from the crowd and from the world. How amazing must that have been for him?”

Kate Tebby
Journalist, BBC Shropshire

Ozzy Osbourne once owned Ozzy's Sportsbar in Newport, Shropshire, which still bears his name more than four decades later.

Boss James Aspray said there had been a sad atmosphere at the venue last night when the news emerged that its "founding father" had died.

The bar still has Black Sabbath memorabilia on display, including tickets and programmes from gigs, and James says some of his customers remember the star from the old days when he lived over the border in Staffordshire.

Image source, Google

Josh Tranter
BBC Radio WM

An Aston Villa scarf is among tributes that have been left at the Black Sabbath bridge, where there has been a steady stream of fans.

Perhaps most significantly at the bottom of the bridge there's a sign that reads 'Made in Birmingham 1968' and that's what really stands out.

We've lost a global icon - the Prince of Darkness - but we've also lost a Brummie - a working class lad who grew up in Aston to the hum of factories.

[He had] little money but big dreams, but still went on to conquer the music world.

There is sadness, but there's also a deep gratitude that people really got to experience him one last time.

Floral tributes and messages continue to be left around the city at significant spots, including The Crown, where the band played their first gig and the Black Sabbath bridge.

Image source, PA

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media