Nicky Campbell pays tribute to his 'adored' mother as she dies aged 96

Nicky Campbell has shared a loving tribute to his mother Sheila after her death yesterday at the age of 96.

The BBC 5 Live Breakfast host was adopted by Sheila and her husband Frank Campbell at just a few days old in 1961.

In a post to Twitter, Campbell wrote: "My mum Sheila died yesterday at 96. We made a BBC programme together about her service as a radar operator and she was immensely proud of her role on D Day. Her life's work was as a social worker helping others. The day she and Dad adopted me was the day I won the lottery.

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"She doted on her grandchildren and my girls completely adored her. Everybody did. I am so lucky and proud to have had her as my mum and we will miss her more than we can ever express.

"She was my adoptive mum. She was my real mum."

Campbell's father Frank died in 1996, while he himself went on to have four daughters with his second wife Tina Ritchie whom he wed in 1997.

The presenter did trace his biological family and met his Irish birth mother Stella Lackey in 1990 and attended her 2008 funeral.

He's previously spoken about meeting Lackey, telling The Times he felt "no emotional connection" with her but that he was “thankful” to have met her.

Campbell is a patron for Adoption UK, and also hosts ITV programme Long Lost Family which sees those searching for their relatives reunited with family members.