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Former Lib Dem leader Lord Paddy Ashdown has been diagnosed with a serious form of bladder cancer.

The 77-year-old former MP for Yeovil today announced that he found out he had the condition three weeks ago.

He confirmed the news on Friday morning: "I have known for about three weeks that I am suffering from a cancer of the bladder.”

The former diplomat and Royal Marine added he was being well looked after at his local hospital.

He tweeted this evening: "I have been so moved by all the lovely comments here. But PLEASE this does not merit a fuss. Many go through this. The NHS guys in Yeovil Hosp. are BRILLIANT. I have the best of people and the best of friends to fight this with, which makes me, as so often in my life, very lucky."

Earlier in the day he told Somerset Live : “I’m being effectively and wonderfully looked after by everyone at Yeovil Hospital in whom I have complete confidence.

“We must see about the outcome which as always with things like this is unpredictable."

“I’ve fought a lot of battles in my life.

“This time I am lucky enough to have the magnificent help of our local hospital and my friends and family and that gives me great confidence.”

Lord Ashdown was voted in as the MP for Yeovil in 1983 and represented the constituency in Parliament until 2001.

He led the Liberal Democrats between 1988 and 1999.

After leaving frontline politics he went on to be the International Community’s High Representative in Bosnia between 2002 and 2006.

Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable tweeted: "My best wishes for a speedy recovery to Paddy Ashdown, one of the great British political figures of the past 30 years and the man who built the Lib Dems into a Parliamentary force. Love to Paddy, Jane and their family."