Image caption Dick Cheney has suffered five heart attacks since the age of 37

Former US Vice-President Dick Cheney has had a heart transplant and is now recovering in hospital, his office has said.

It said the surgery had been carried out on Saturday at the Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia.

Mr Cheney, 71, has had heart problems for much of his adult life, suffering five heart attacks since the age of 37.

Mr Cheney served as former President George W Bush's deputy from 2001 to 2009.

"Although the former vice-president and his family do not know the identity of the donor, they will be forever grateful for this lifesaving gift," Mr Cheney's spokeswoman said in a statement.

She also revealed that Mr Cheney had been waiting for a transplant for more than 20 months.

The spokeswoman provided no further details.