Legendary conductor Sir Colin Davis has died, aged 85.

The longtime London Symphony Orchestra (Lso) leader was born in Surrey in 1927 and studied clarinet at the Royal College of Music in London.

He played in the band of the Household Cavalry during his years of military service, and became a professional conductor with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in 1957.

A year later he became Sadler's Wells' principal conductor and made his debut with the Lso 1959.

Davis also worked with the Royal Opera House, the BBC Symphony and English Chamber orchestras. He became the Lso's principal conductor in 1995 and its president in 2007.

He was knighted in 1980 and he became a Companion of Honour in Queen Elizabeth Ii's Birthday Honours in 2001.