ITV News presenter Rageh Omaar is receiving medical care after becoming “unwell” live on air, ITV has said.

Omaar, 56, was presenting the channel’s News at Ten programme on Friday when he appeared to be struggling to read the bulletins.

The incident sparked widespread concern on social media.

Omaar serves as international affairs editor at ITV News and was formerly a foreign correspondent for the BBC.

“We are aware that viewers are concerned about Rageh Omaar’s wellbeing,” an ITV News spokesperson said.

“Rageh became unwell while presenting News at Ten on Friday and is now receiving medical care.

“He thanks everyone for their well wishes.”

No further details of Omaar’s condition or what happened to him during the broadcast have been released.

However, ITV pulled the programme from its scheduled re-runs on ITV+1, with a message instead telling viewers that ITV was “temporarily unable to bring you our +1 service”.

“We will resume shortly,” it read.

Omaar first rose to prominence covering the war in Iraq for the BBC in 2003.

He now covers major news stories across the world for ITV News and also presents current affairs programme On Assignment.