Rob Ford, the former mayor of Toronto who gained global notoriety for admitting to smoking crack cocaine while in office, has died.

The 46-year-old had been undergoing treatment for an aggressive form of cancer that had recurred despite surgery and several rounds of chemotherapy.

His tenure as mayor was marred by revelations about his drinking problems and illegal drug use and he was repeatedly videotaped and photographed while intoxicated in public.

Nevertheless, after losing that office he was later elected by a landslide to a City Council seat, a job he held until his death.