LIVE Reaction as Huw Edwards named as BBC presenter facing sexually explicit images claims - updates

Huw Edwards has been named as the BBC presenter facing claims claims over alleged payments made for sexually explicit images.

The newsreader was identified in a statement released by his wife earlier today.

It comes after claims made in The Sun that an unnamed news reader paid a young person around £35,000 over three years, from the age of 17, for sexually explicit images.

Join our FREE Manchester Crime and Court WhatsApp group by clicking here

A spokesperson for The Metropolitan Police had already said no criminal offence has been committed by the BBC presenter.

In her statement, Vicky Flind said her husband Huw Edwards was “suffering from serious mental health issues” and is now “receiving in-patient hospital care where he will stay for the foreseeable future” as she asked for privacy for her family.

Follow the latest updates on this story in our live blog below.

During the BBC News at Six on Wednesday, Edwards’ colleague Sophie Raworth informed viewers of the latest development. "At Six, Huw Edwards is the presenter accused of paying a teenager for explicit photos," she said as the news programme began.

Raworth stated that Edwards had announced his resignation, but a few minutes later clarified that this wasn’t the case. Sources have since made it clear to the PA news agency that Edwards, 61, has not resigned.

She later said this will come as a "huge shock" to viewers before reading out part of Edwards' wife's statement.

Watch the moment in full.

Huw Edwards is now receiving inpatient care in hospital as he is ‘suffering from serious mental health issues’, a statement issued by his wife has confirmed.

The presenter has been treated for severe depression in recent years, the statement says.

Those mental health