Former ITN and BBC broadcaster Peter Sissons dies aged 77

Former BBC and ITN newsreader Peter Sissons, has died at the age of 77.

A statement from Knight Ayton management said: "We are sad to announce that Peter Sissons, the former presenter on ITN, Channel 4 and the BBC, died peacefully last night in Maidstone Hospital, Kent.

"His wife and three children were with him and wish to pass on their thanks to the hospital staff who were so caring and fought gallantly to save him to the end."

Mr Sissons worked as a journalist for more than 45 years across ITN, BBC and Channel 4 News.

During his 25 years at ITN, Mr Sissons won the "best front of camera performer" award by the Broadcasting Press Guild and the Royal Television Society's prestigious "Judges' Award" for his work on Channel Four News.

Fellow journalists have paid tribute to the former BBC and ITN newsreader.

ITV News Consumer Editor Chris Choi wrote: "Great sadness here at ITN at the death of Peter Sissons who worked here from 1964."

Piers Morgan said: "RIP Peter Sissons, 77. An excellent journalist & TV newsreader, and splendidly combative & amusing man.