Richard Hammond undergoes surgery

TV presenter Richard Hammond is recovering after undergoing kidney stone surgery.

The Top Gear star took to his Twitter.com page on Friday to tell followers he was in hospital to have the stone removed.

He wrote, "Oh joy. Sending from hospital bed. A kidney stone arrived. Am specialising in crap conditions: this, shin splints. Might try gout next... So, either stone exits alone to manly grimacing from me tonight or they set off up the only available route in with axes and smash it. Nice!"

A few hours later, Hammond showed he was in good spirits by joking about the procedure.

Hammond tweeted, "Nothing I can say that won't spark cries of TMI (too much information)! Stone bust with laser, end of old chap (penis) like the end of a trombone."