GARY Brooker, the lead singer Procol Harum, has spoken of his relief after winning his court battle to reclaim full royalty rights to the worldwide hit A Whiter Shade of Pale.

Southend-born Mr Brooker went to the Court of Appeal in October after Matthew Fisher won a High Court ruling that he was entitled to 40 per cent of the musical copyright of the song.

Former keyboard player Mr Fisher, 60, successfully argued that he wrote the organ melody in the song.

Now the Court of Appeal has ruled that although Mr Fisher was entitled to co-authorship, he should not receive any royalties.

Mr Brooker, 62, said he was relieved the case was over.

He said: "For nearly three years this claim has been a great strain upon myself and my family and something I would rather have dealt with 40 years ago. I believe the original trial was unfair and the result wrong.

"Justly, the decision of the Court of Appeal has gone some way to putting this right and I would hope that now we can all get on with our lives."

Mr Brooker, who grew up in Eastwood and went to Westcliff High School for Boys, was still living in Eastwood when A Whiter Shade Of Pale was released in 1967.

He moved to London following the success of the track, which went on to sell an estimated 10 million copies worldwide and still earns substantial royalties for copyright owners Mr Brooker and lyricist Keith Reid.

Mr Brooker, now living near Guildford, said: "My mum who lived in Southend died earlier this year and it's a shame she isn't here to see this resolved.

"It's taken such a long time and I'd much rather get on with playing music.

"I want to extend thanks to the people in Southend who have always supported me in this case. The music fans have been a great support."

Lord Justice Mummery said in a ruling that because Mr Fisher took 38 years to bring the case to court, he should not benefit financially.

He said: "Matthew Fisher is guilty of excessive and inexcusable delay in his claim to assert joint title to a joint interest in the work.

"He silently stood by and acquiesced in the defendant's commercial exploitation of the work for 38 years."

Mr Brooker, who fronted Southend band the Paramounts before Procol Harum, is hoping the issue of who pays the estimated £500,000 legal costs of the action will be resolved promptly.

Mr Fisher is now a computer programmer in South London.