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Chris Rea has reportedly left £12million to his wife Joan and family following his death last Christmas.

The Driving Home For Christmas hitmaker passed away on December 22 aged 74 after a period of short illness.

And The Sun has now revealed that the singer left behind £14,435,894 which was reduced to £12,063,178 after taxes, debts and costs were taken into account.

His final will was signed in October, two months prior to his death. His will also stated his wish to be cremated.

As well as the £12million sum, Joan will also receive all future royalties from her husband's hits as well as his personal belongings.

The Daily Mail has contacted Chris's representatives for comment.

Driving Home For Christmas singer Chris Rea has reportedly left £12million to his wife Joan as his will is revealed (pictured with Joan and their daughters Josie (R) and Julia (L) in 2009)

The iconic song Driving Home For Christmas has made a reappearance on the UK Singles Chart every year since 2007, including making number 10 in 2021.

Middlesbrough-born Chris, who met Joan when he was just 16, had been dogged with serious health issues including peritonitis, pancreatic cancer and diabetes.

In 2017, it was revealed he needed to inject insulin seven times a day.

Announcing his death last December, a statement from his wife Joan and their daughters Josie and Julia, read: 'It is with immense sadness that we announce the death of our beloved Chris.

'He passed away peacefully in hospital earlier today following a short illness, surrounded by his family.'

Chris was born in Middlesbrough and didn't start making music until he was in his 20s when he learned to play the guitar and joined several local bands before landing a solo record deal with Magnet Records.

He released his first album Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? in 1978 and scored a US hit with the single Fool (If You Think It's Over) and earned himself a Grammy Award nomination for best new artist.

The star continued to record albums but didn't score a big hit in his native UK until he released Dancing with Strangers in 1987 while 1989s The Road to Hell featured his two-part track of the same name which became one of his most famous tunes.

Middlesbrough-born Chris, who met Joan when he was just 16, had been dogged with serious health issues including peritonitis, pancreatic cancer and diabetes (pictured in 2008)

His other best known song is the festive track Driving Home For Christmas which was originally released as a B-side to the single Hello Friend in 1986.

He re-recorded the track in 1988 and it featured on his 1988 album New Light Through Old Windows.

According to the BBC, he previously admitted he didn't want to release the track but his record company forced him to.

He said: 'I didn't need a Christmas song hanging around at that point. I did everything I could to get them not to release that record. Thankfully they did!'