Sir Trevor McDonald presents News at Ten

The move would mean that it would no longer be competing for viewers with the BBC main evening news bulletin, which is also at 10pm.

The network made an informal approach to the Independent Television Commission on Wednesday.

"We have plans to broadcast 9pm bulletins in the event of war, but nothing is confirmed," said an ITV spokesman.

"There would obviously be a huge appetite for news if there was a war but no-one is certain yet how the situation will develop.

"The ITC has been alerted to our plans and it has been supportive."

ITV broadcast a number of special news bulletins in the 9pm spot following September 11.

The move was popular with viewers, attracting about 10 million.

Competing

News at Ten has recently suffered falling ratings, attracting about three million viewers compared with the five or six million which regularly tune in to the BBC's Ten O'Clock News.

The BBC moved its programme to 10pm in October 2000 after ITN temporarily vacated the slot in March 1999.

ITN had to reinstate the News at Ten after the ITC found that the programme's 11pm replacement was attracting insufficient viewers.

The two channels have been competing for viewers ever since.

The BBC provides a 30-minute bulletin presented by Huw Edwards.

ITV's news is provided by ITN, with Sir Trevor McDonald at the helm, with a 20-minute bulletin shown three or four times a week.