Ronnie Wood has had part of his lung removed after being diagnosed with cancer.

The Rolling Stones' guitarist said doctors had found a cancerous lesion three months ago during a routine check-up ahead of a tour.

The musician, 70, said he thought 'it was time to say goodbye' to his family after being told it would require a lengthy operation and possibly gruelling chemotherapy.

Ahead of the launch of his new book Ronnie Wood: Artist, he told The Mail on Sunday's Event Magazine, Wood: Did I think I’d ever make it to see this? Hell no! Someone up there must like me. And luckily someone down here likes me too.’

"I’ve had a fight with a touch of lung cancer. There was a week when everything hung in the balance and it could have been curtains – time to say goodbye. You never know what is going to happen.’

Wood, who gave up cigarettes a year ago after the birth of his twins, Gracie and Alice, had previously chain-smoked for 50 years.