The Iraqi army says it has recaptured the ancient city of Nimrud from Islamic State.

The militant group took the 3,000-year-old city, near Mosul in northern Iraq, in April last year.

The Iraqi military said: "Troops from the Ninth Armoured Division liberated Nimrud town completely and raised the Iraqi flag above its buildings."

Nimrud was founded in the 13th century BC and contains one of the most famous archaeological sites in a country dubbed the cradle of civilisation.

After capturing the city, IS released a video appearing to show its fighters smashing up ancient artefacts and blowing up the Assyrian site.