McDiarmid, 40, who had worked for Sky News for over five years, died at home in London with her parents and her husband Jim at her bedside.

A Sky spokesman said she had been receiving treatment for the disease for over a year.

"This is a great tragedy for Fiona's family," said Nick Pollard, head of Sky News.

McDiarmid, a graduate of Oxford University, began her career in the West Country as a reporter on radio station GWR.

She then moved to London to work at breakfast station TV-am as a producer and reporter, where she received much acclaim for her series on the Aids problem among Romanian orphans.

Her interest in medical issues continued when she became health correspondent for TV-am's successor, GMTV, also presenting weekend news bulletins.

Fiona was a lovely woman who was regarded with great affection by friends and colleagues

Nick Pollard, Sky News

In 1994, she became the main news presenter for London-based cable outfit Channel One television.

She left to join Sky News in 1997, where she was best known for presenting Sky News' interactive programme Your Call, as well as Sky World News.

"Fiona was a lovely woman who was very highly thought of professionally and was regarded with great affection by friends and colleagues throughout the industry," said Nick Pollard.

"Our sympathies go to Fiona's husband, parents and the rest of her family. She will be sadly missed."