Former US president Bill Clinton to attend Martin McGuinness funeral

Former US President Bill Clinton and ex-Northern Ireland first minister Peter Robinson are set to join mourners at the funeral of Martin McGuinness in his native Londonderry.

Irish president Michael D Higgins and his predecessor Mary McAleese will also attend requiem mass for the ex-IRA commander turned Stormont deputy first minister, as will Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire will represent the UK government at Thursday's service in the heart of Mr McGuinness's beloved Bogside neighbourhood in Derry.

While former Democratic Unionist leader Mr Robinson is expected at the funeral, by 6.30pm on Wednesday the party had not officially confirmed whether his successor Arlene Foster would attend.

Thousands are expected to bring parts of Derry to a standstill as people say farewell to one of its most famous sons.

Derry city centre manager Jim Roddy commented: “This is a massive event by any scale, number one you’ve got the emotion around the event, you’ve got the dignitaries coming to the event, a massive funeral earlier in the morning with young Ryan McBride, who was another great son of this city so, the long tower church tomorrow is going to be a place of great sadness.”

As preparations for the huge funeral intensified through Wednesday, political leaders in Westminster and Belfast commended Mr McGuinness's contribution to the peace process.