Mourners are gathering for the funeral of Brighton-based newsreader Carol Barnes.

Family and close friends will attend the ceremony at a private gathering.

Barnes, 63, died last weekend at the Royal Sussex County Hospital after reportedly suffering a stroke.

She began her working life as a teacher, before joining ITN as a reporter in 1976 and going on to anchor all the broadcaster's main news programmes, including the flagship News at Ten bulletin for a number of years.

A statement released by her agents Knight Ayton Management said a memorial for Carol Barnes would be held on March 29 in Brighton.

It also read: "Her family have requested that the funeral should be private."