News anchor reveals he has incurable disease on live TV

A long-serving US news anchor has revealed that he has the incurable motor neurone disease ALS in a heartbreaking live broadcast.

Forty-year veteran of North Carolina TV station WTVD, Larry Stogner struggled but remained composed as he delivered his devastating news to viewers on Friday night.

"I am sure that in recent months, you've noticed a change in my voice, my speech, slower," he said.

"Many of you were kind enough to email me ideas about what it might be, or just to show concern and I truly appreciate that. As it turns out, I have ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease.

"My career in broadcast journalism is coming to an end."

Stogner mentioned that he had taken part in the ALS fundraiser "The Ice Bucket Challenge" last year, unaware that the disease he had helped promote awareness of and raise money for was about to change his life.

The anchor said that he planned to take a brief holiday with his wife but would return to the air in two weeks to share a few thoughts and offer "a more personal goodbye".

ALS, also known as Motor Neurone Disease, causes stiffening of the muscles, muscle twitching and gradually worsening weakness as muscle wastes away.

It causes problems with speaking, swallowing and breathing.

The average lifespan for ALS patients is two to five years after diagnosis.