TV sports presenter has cancer op

Television sports presenter Helen Rollason, who is fighting cancer, has had an operation, the BBC said yesterday. "Helen had an operation last night [Wednesday], the surgery went according to plan, and she is recovering well," a spokeswoman said.

The 41-year-old former PE teacher, who was the first woman to present the BBC's flagship sports programme Grandstand, is in hospital in Brentwood, Essex, the spokeswoman added.

The hospital - which has not been named - has clarified that she is suffering from cancer of the colon, not stomach cancer as reported earlier, the spokeswoman said.

Ms Rollason was diagnosed with the illness on Monday.