Sky News has been fined £50,000 over a report faked by its late correspondent James Forlong.

Mr Forlong, 44, hanged himself at his home in Hove in October three months after being sacked over the report.

The story claimed to have a live exclusive showing a missile being fired during the Iraq war from the Navy submarine HMS Splendid.

It later emerged the pictures were taken from library footage and the submarine was in dock.

The Independent Television Commission found the report breached guidelines on accuracy and misled viewers.

It ruled: "Audiences are reliant on the accuracy of news reports, particularly during war."

But the ITC imposed the relatively low fine after concluding there were mitigating factors.

Mr Forlong's career began at the West Sussex County Times before he moved to The Argus as a reporter.

He became a BBC radio reporter and switched to TV in 1988, joining ITN then Sky News in 1993.