Keith Flint was born in Redbridge in north-east London and his family moved to Braintree in Essex in the mid-1970s.

Image source, Getty Images

It was here, in 1990, where he co-founded The Prodigy with Liam Howlett and Leeroy Thornhill.

Image source, Geograph/Trevor Harris

In recent years he had run The Leather Bottle pub in Pleshey, near Braintree.

Fans have been turning up there to pay tribute since his death, the NME reported, external.

He is said to kept a swearbox above the pub's fire, and ordered people to pay up if they sang Prodigy song Firestarter at him as he lit it.

Image source, DARREN BODDY/PARKRUN

He took part in three 5km parkruns at Chelmsford shortly before his death.

Two days before his body was found he set a personal best time of 21 minutes 22 seconds.

Flint, 49, was found dead at his home near Dunmow on 4 March.

Since his death earlier this month, tributes have sprung up around the country as artists are inspired to create their own tributes.

Here are some you should put on your list to go and see...

The street art above appeared on an underpass in Peterborough and has been described as "iconic" by Gizz Butt, a former guitarist with The Prodigy.

It shows Flint in his characteristic pose with his pierced tongue sticking out and was created by fan and artist Nathan Murdock.

Here's another we love - this one's in Southend in Essex...

Image source, Southend BID

Artist John Bulley painted the mural, which shows Flint performing alongside a poem paying tribute to him, under the bridge on Southend High Street.

"If you paint Bob Marley or David Bowie people instantly know who it is and Keith Flint is like that."

Street art might be fleeting - who knows if it will be painted over by another artist?

But The Prodigy fan Saphya Gower has started a petition calling for a permanent memorial to Flint - a statue in Braintree.

She says the band's "music makes me feel alive, indestructible, invincible. I'll be forever thankful to them".

So far the petition has been signed by more than 8,600 people.

Fans have been leaving floral tributes outside St Mary's Church in Bocking.

But others in the village and neighbouring Braintree are showing their appreciation with flags and window displays.

We feel it's right that we should treat this page today as a celebration of Keith Flint's Life.

If you feel like sharing, we'd love to hear from you.

Did he crowd-surf on your shoulders at a live gig?

Image source, PA

Have you ever chatted to Keith backstage or at an event?

Maybe you visited his pub - the Leather Bottle in Pleshey - and, as legend has it, ended up paying a fine as you couldn't stop yourself from quipping about Flint being a "twisted firestarter" as he lit the open fire to warm punters?

Please do send us your memories and photographs.

You can email them to us, or get in touch on Facebook , externalor Twitter, external.

Dawn Gerber
BBC News Online

We've been speaking to many of the band's fans who have begun gathering in Bocking.

One of those has written a poem in tribute to former frontman Keith Flint.

Claire Wright, 41, has travelled from Margate, Kent, to Bocking, Essex, to attend the funeral.

"I wouldn't have missed this for the world," she said.

"I'm just so shocked."

For those who can't remember the '90s - the dance group from Braintree in Essex were formed in 1990 by DJ Liam Howlett.

The Prodigy are credited as pioneers of the breakbeat-influenced genre big beat, which gained mainstream popularity during the decade alongside Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim.

The band emerged in the underground rave scene and achieved popularity and worldwide recognition with UK number one singles "Firestarter" and "Breathe", both coming from their album The Fat of the Land (1997).

It was when Flint grabbed the mic and unleashed the full fury of his voice on the abrasive, in-your-face rave-rock anthem Firestarter that the band truly went global.

The lyrics - "I'm the firestarter / Twisted firestarter"- were the first he'd written for the band.

"It didn't really have anything to do with starting fires," he told the BBC in 1996.

Their most recent album, No Tourists, went to number one last November.

The "Godfathers of Rave" and "the premiere dance act for the alternative masses" are just two of the titles the band earned.

Need a quick Prodigy fix? You can hear lots of their tracks on the BBC Music page dedicated to the band.

Source: BBC Music / BBC Entertainment

Ahead of the funeral procession, members of The Prodigy are appealing to fans to "please be respectful of the local area and residents" of Braintree.

Fans are rallying to the band's call to "raise the roof" for Keef and line the route of the funeral courtege, but as hundreds are expected to gather the band is encouraging people to take public transport to avoid clogging up roads in the town.

Some schools in the area announced on Thursday they would either close early or allow parents to pick up children earlier than usual in order to avoid traffic, as the Braintree and Witham Times reported, external.

Stuart Howells
BBC News Online

I'm outside St Mary's Church where crowds have begun gathering ahead of the funeral of Keith Flint.

A number of floral tributes have been left outside, where fans have been paying their respects.

The private service for close family and friends will be broadcast on loudspeakers outside the church from 16:00 GMT.

Final preparations have been made at St Mary's Church in Bocking, where Keith Flint's funeral is due to begin at 16:00 GMT.

Rev Rod Reid, who will officiate the service, said: "Bocking is looking absolutely beautiful and we're ready to give him that send-off he deserves.

Image source, St Mary’s Church in Bocking.

"Flowers and well-wishers began to arrive from yesterday afternoon and the service will be relayed outside the church so they'll hear the music, the readings and performances and hopefully feel part of the day.

"To see so many people here, back in his home town… this is a big day and a privilege for us."

Today is a timely reminder that if you are struggling to cope, you can contact the Samaritans on the free helpline 116 123, or follow this link to access support services.

Keith Flint's funeral procession through Braintree is due to start at 15:00 GMT, ahead of a service at St Mary's Church in Bocking at 16:00.

The cortege will leave Courtauld Road, near to the roundabout of Railway Street and Coggeshall Road.

It will continue along Courtauld Road, before going right on Bradford Street and then turning left on to Church Lane (B1053).

The procession is expected to reach St Mary's Church between 15:30 and 15:45.

Welcome to our live coverage as we join friends and fans to bid farewell to the man described by fellow band members as a "true pioneer, innovator and legend".

Image source, PA

The funeral of Keith Flint, vocalist with dance music megastars The Prodigy, takes place this afternoon.

Hundreds of mourners are expected to line the streets as the cortege passes through Braintree and neighbouring Bocking - a small village in Essex - from 15:00 GMT.

The band has asked that fans "raise the roof for Keef" to celebrate his life.

Flint, 49, was found dead at his home in nearby Dunmow on 4 March. An inquest revealed the cause of his death was by hanging.

Known for his instantly recognisable fluorescent spiked hair and high-octane performances, news of his death shocked fans across the globe.

Join us as we cover his funeral - and recall his life.