A 46-year-old man is due in court on Friday accused of stalking BBC newsreader Anna Ford.

Terence Lawton, of Chelsea, south-west London, allegedly sent the television presenter a series of disturbing letters before turning up at her home in Brentford, west London.

Ms Ford, 56, who lives with her two teenage daughters, Kate and Claire, called police after an incident on Wednesday evening.

Mr Lawton is due to appear before Feltham magistrates in west London on Friday.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "He is charged with two counts of sending malicious communications to Anna Ford on 7 and 9 February, and one count of harassment of Anna Ford on or before 9 February at her home address in Brentford."

'Total professional'

The BBC has issued a statement saying: "We take the security of our staff very seriously and will be offering Anna our full support."

Ms Ford presented the One O'Clock News on Thursday and her co-presenter, Huw Edwards, said: "Anna is a total professional as was clear in the way she presented the One O'Clock News today. She never lets viewers down."

Ms Ford was involved in a security scare last September when an intruder smashed his way into the BBC newsroom in White City, west London, while she was preparing to go on air.

Nigel Flack, a 21-year-old student suffering from mental illness, later admitted affray and common assault.

Ms Ford was a friend and colleague of Crimewatch UK presenter Jill Dando, who was shot dead outside her home in Fulham, west London almost a year ago.

Ms Dando's killer has not yet been traced.