Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi was taken to hospital suffering from renal colic on the day he planned to present his candidates for European Parliament elections.

Mr Berlusconi’s press office said the 82-year-old still hoped to attend the presentation later on Tuesday outside Milan.

It said he was receiving treatment for “acute renal colic” at Milan’s San Raffaele clinic.

Renal colic is pain often caused by kidney stones.

The three-time premier has suffered heart problems in the past.

He has said, despite his age, he wants to run for the European Parliament elections to restore Europe to its values.

His once-dominant Forza Italia party trails in the polls behind the right-wing League and populist 5-Star Movement.