Newsreader Carol Barnes was preparing to go on a cruise before suffering a massive stroke, friends said today.

The ITN journalist, who lives in Brighton Marina, was planning a summer holiday when she was taken seriously ill.

Friends described Ms Barnes as being "serene" in the weeks leading to the stroke.

She is currently being treated in the intensive care unit at the Royal Sussex County Hospital last night. Her family were at her bedside.

Former colleague Ed Mitchell, who worked on a recent documentary with Ms Barnes, said he was devastated at the news.

"This comes as a complete shock. She seemed to be in such good health and very serene when I worked with her on the documentary.

"I think she was planning a cruise, she was about to go on holiday."

Neighbours at Brighton Marina described Ms Barnes as "charming" and lover of animals.

"This is terrible news - she appeared to be very well," one neighbour, who did not want to be named, said.

Ms Barnes, 63, anchored the News at Ten and presented the news for Sky and ITN digital channels.

She was married to Labour MP Denis McShane and later married ITN cameraman Nigel Thomson.

Her daughter with Mr McShane, Clare, died when she was 24 in a sky-diving accident in Australia in 2004.

Ms Barnes also has a son, James, with Mr Thomson.

She recently presented the ITV programme 'Saving Ed Mitchell' where she set out to discover why her former colleague's life had taken such a dramatic turn after he developed a drink problem.