Shock news for Moira... she's too old for BBC

Newsreader Moira Stuart has been forced out of presenting early morning bulletins because she is too old, it was reported today.

The 55-year-old blames ageism at the BBC for her being removed from reading the bulletins on Andrew Marr's Sunday AM programme.

Ms Stuart, Britain's first black female newscaster, told friends she was "very disappointed".

One said: "This was not her decision, it was the BBC's." Another added the move was a "source of great disappointment" to the broadcaster. Friends said Ms Stuart believed it was due to the fact that there are other, younger, presenters ready to take her place.

In recent weeks Ms Stuart has been seen in other roles for the channel. Earlier this month, she presented a documentary to the mark the abolition of slavery.

A spokesman for the BBC confirmed the move, saying: "Moira is doing other things for the BBC."

Ms Stuart, who started her career as an actress, was a continuity announcer and newsreader on Radio 4 and Radio 2 before moving into television in 1981.

Since then, she has become one of the BBC's most prolific newsreaders.