(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Amy Winehouse would have "hated" her family if they forced her to get sober.

The British singer died aged 27 at her London home in July. She had a highly-publicised battle with drugs and alcohol and entered rehab on several occasions.

Her father Mitch Winehouse insists she quit drugs three years ago and toxicology results released last month showed there were "no illegal substances" in her system at the time of her death.

Although her family were desperate for her to clean up her life, Mitch insists they could never have forced her to seek help unless she agreed first.

"That would have been the worst thing," Mitch replied when asked if he was ever tempted to lock her in a room and throw away the alcohol. "Whatever happened, that would have hastened it and she would not have made the decision to come off drugs. She would have hated her family until her dying breath had we done that."

Mitch insists Amy's loved ones tried their best to help her.

Once he realised she was taking drugs, he begged her to get clean and confronted the people leading her astray.

"We took every step we could once we knew to get rid of the people around her that were a negative influence. I was having fist fights with drug dealers and, you know, for a man of my age it was a very, very difficult situation for me to be in," he added in an interview with British TV show Daybreak. "I never, ever saw her take hard drugs. I thought, When is this all happening?' because as a family we were with her a lot of the time. I tried everything throwing myself on the floor, crying, screaming, shouting."

Amy would have celebrated her 28th birthday today.

To mark the occasion, a charity has been launched to help vulnerable people. The Amy Winehouse Foundation will offer support and care for young people all over the world, including those with addictions.

Amy's duet with Tony Bennett, Body and Soul, is also being released today. Profits from the single sales will go towards her foundation.

"She will be with us like she is on every birthday, she will be with us," Mitch added as he wiped away tears. "Her birthday is a very special day for us and now it will be a special day for everybody because every year today will be the Amy Winehouse Foundation Day." (C) Cover Media