Evangelist passes away

Influential US evangelist Billy Graham dies

Mr Graham became one of the best-known promoters of Christianity, beginning his worldwide mission in large arenas in London in 1954.

He died at his home in Montreat, North Carolina, a spokesman for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association said.

In a 60-year career, he is estimated to have preached to hundreds of millions of people.

Mr Graham reached millions of them through TV - the first to use the medium to convey the Christian message on that scale.

Worldwide phenomenon