The veteran war correspondent Michael Nicholson has died aged 79, his family has announced.

He passed away on December 11 while on a cruise with his wife, Diana.

In a career spanning more than five decades, he reported on the 1991 Gulf War, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Falklands War in 1982, the Balkans conflict, the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, and the Fall of Saigon the following year.

In a statement, his family said: "He was an amazing father, devoted grandfather, loving husband and dear friend.

"A dedicated family man, he was desperately looking forward to celebrating Christmas with his children and grandchildren.

"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."

Former ITN presenter and colleague Sir Trevor McDonald said the news was "terribly, terribly sad".

"He was the best of us all," said McDonald. "A sensational reporter. He almost single-handedly changed the face of TV news reporting."

ITN Chief Executive John Hardie said Nicholson had "devoted his life to shining a light on the darkest stories".

Nicholson joined ITN in 1964, and was the network's Senior Foreign Correspondent between 1989 and 1999.

He then joined ITV's flagship current affairs programme Tonight, presenting long-form reports from across the UK and around the world.

In 1976, he became ITN's first bureau chief in South Africa and was the first television correspondent to live in apartheid South Africa.

Nicholson reported from the toppling of Saddam Hussein's statue in Baghdad at the end of the Iraq War.

He leaves behind his wife, four children and three grandchildren.

His family have asked that their privacy is respected and that they are allowed to grieve at this difficult time.