Legendary jockey Lester Piggott has died at the age of 86. 

Britain's most famous rider won the Epsom Derby on nine occasions during a glittering career spanning the best part of 50 years. 

He passed away this morning after spending time in hospital in Switzerland. 

It had previously been suggested Piggott was on the mend and his cause of death has not been revealed.

His daughter Maureen Haggas, married to Derby-winning trainer William Haggas, said yesterday: "I went to see him earlier in the week and he’s improving, which is good news. 

"He’s much better than he was earlier in the week and hopefully he’ll be going home on either Monday or Tuesday."

Confirming the news of Piggott's passing, William Haggas said: "Sadly we can confirm that Lester died peacefully in Switzerland this morning. 

"I really don’t wish to add much more than that at this stage, although Maureen will be making a statement later."

Piggott won his first race at the age of 12 at Haydock in 1948 and went on to ride more than 4,000 winners before retiring for the first time in 1985. 

The flat jockey star was awarded an OBE in 1975 but was stripped of the honour 12 years later when he was handed a three-year prison sentence for income tax evasion. 

He returned to racing in 1990 and won the 2,000 Guineas two years later before retiring for the final time in 1995 at the age of 59. 

Last year, Piggott was named among the first draft of inductees into the British Champions Series Hall of Fame. 

The Lesters, the annual awards handed out by the Professional Jockeys Association, are named in his honour.