Mike Neville, the face of TV news in the North-East for more than four decades, this morning announced that he is to quit.

The 69-year-old, who is Britain's longest serving daily television presenter, has been off work for almost a year after undergoing a life-saving operation.

The TV favourite, 69, was the first presenter in the history of British television to clock up 40 years of daily broadcasting.

After starting out at newly launched Tyne Tees TV in 1962, Neville left for the BBC and spent 32 years presenting Look North and a range of network programmes, including Nationwide.

His banter with fellow Beeb presenter George House is the stuff of legend with Geordies - and as a man of many talents Neville even once presented Come Dancing.

Over the years he has rubbed shoulders with many greats in the world of TV and sport.

Neville, who lives with wife, Pam, in Whickham, near Gateshead, returned to Tyne Tees in 1996 to front North East Tonight, as well as his own celebrity chat show, The Mike Neville Show.

He has been absent from daily news presentation since July last year when he underwent emergency surgery to remove a blood clot.

Neville, who will celebrate his 70th birthday in October, said: "I've been thrilled at the number of letters and cards I've received from viewers over the past months whilst Ive been recuperating.

"I am going to miss being invited into their homes every evening at six o'clock. But as one chapter ends, another begins.

"I'm keeping the door open with ITV and I'm working on other projects. I'm not quite ready for retirement."

Tyne Tees TV managing director Graeme Thompson said: "It's the end of an era for television in the North East.

"We've all grown up with Mike and we are going to miss his unique presence on the programme.

"We're delighted his health continues to improve and he takes with him all our love and best wishes for the future."

Neville, born the working-class son of a general labourer in Wallsend, has picked up a host of awards - including an honour from the Royal Television Society for outstanding achievement in broadcasting.

In 1990 he was awarded an MBE for services to television.

His many admirers include Prime Minister Tony Blair, who described the presenter as one of the great unifiers of the North-East.

Last year he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Northumbria.