Sir Roger Bannister has died at the age of 88, his family has confirmed.

The legendary athlete holds the distinction of becoming the first person in history to run a sub-minute mile, achieving the feat in 1954 when he was aged 25.

During his career, Bannister earned a gold medal for the 1-mile race at the 1954 Commonwealth Games and was also European champion in the 1500m. After retiring from athletics he became a distinguished neurologist and had been battling Parkinson's disease for the last seven years.

In a statement issued on Sunday morning, the family of Bannister said: "Sir Roger Bannister died peacefully in Oxford on March 3 2018, aged 88, surrounded by his family who were as loved by him, as he was loved by them. He banked his treasure in the hearts of his friends."

Speaking about his battle with Parkinson's in an interview with BBC Sport in 2014, Bannister had said: "I have seen, and looked after, patients with so many neurological and other disorders that I am not surprised I have acquired an illness. It's in the nature of things, there's a gentle irony to it."

Bannister is survived by his wife Moyra and four children.