The world's oldest person Emma Morano has died at her home in northern Italy, according to her doctor. 

Ms Morano's carer called Dr Carlo Bava to say that she had died on Saturday afternoon while sitting in an armchair at her home in Verbania, a town on Lake Maggiore.

The doctor said he had last paid his daily call on her on Friday. He says "she thanked me and held my hand" as usual.

Ms Morano was born on November 29nd 1899 and was officially the last surviving person in the world who was born in the 19th century. 

Ms Morano was the oldest of eight siblings, all of whom she outlived. Her life not only spanned three centuries but she survived two World Wars and more than 90 Italian governments.