Veteran British war correspondent Michael Nicholson, who reported on armed conflicts in a career spanning more than 50 years, has died, it was announced at the weekend.

The 79-year-old former ITN presenter died on December 11th while on a cruise with his wife Diana, ITV News said.

He covered conflicts including the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the Gulf War after joining the network in 1964.

The newsman was also known for smuggling a nine-year-old orphan out of war-torn Sarajevo and bringing her back to the UK where he adopted her.

Former News At Ten anchor Sir Trevor McDonald said: “Michael Nicholson was almost without doubt the finest television journalist of his generation.”

ITV News presenter Alastair Stewart said he was "deeply saddened" and the BBC's Nick Robinson remembered him as a "giant of TV news".

ITN chief executive John Hardie tweeted: "We mourn the passing of ITN legend Michael Nicholson. From Saigon to Sarajevo he devoted his life to shining a light on the darkest stories."

Orphaned Natasha Mihaljcic won the correspondent's heart while he reported on children being trapped by shelling in the besieged Bosnian capital in 1992.

He wrote a book about the events and it inspired the 1997 film Welcome To Sarajevo, which was directed by Michael Winterbottom.

Last year, his book dealing with Irish Famine, Dark Rosaleen - a famine novel, was published by The History Press Ireland.

In a statement to ITV news, his family said: “He was a highly accomplished correspondent, much admired by his peers across the world.

“His passing has devastated us all but he will be forever remembered through his enormous love for life and substantial professional legacy.”