AMs pay tribute to former First Minister Rhodri Morgan

The funeral of former First Minister Rhodri Morgan will take place next Wednesday at the Senedd, the Assembly has confirmed.

It will be conducted by former AM Lorraine Barrett, who is now a humanist celebrant, at 11am.

The public are invited to attend, with a full order of service announced in the coming days.

A book of condolence will remain open at the Senedd.

• More: 'He had a wonderful life' - Julie Morgan pays tribute to Rhodri Morgan

Cardiff North AM Julie Morgan had paid tribute to her late husband - the former First Minister Rhodri Morgan.

Mr Morgan died suddenly last Wednesday aged 77.

Assembly Members shared their memories of him in the Senedd on Tuesday afternoon.

"Losing Rhodri is a terrible personal blow to me and the family" said Julie Morgan.

"It is an aching loss, and I know I haven't realised yet the full enormity".

"But it is very comforting to listen to what everybody has said, and the tributes from everybody here and from all over Wales have been a huge comfort".

"He had a wonderful life, and he enjoyed every minute".

• 'What I am now, I owe to him' - Carwyn Jones leads tributes to Rhodri Morgan

First Minister Carwyn Jones has opened tributes in the Senedd to his predecessor, Rhodri Morgan, who died last week. Mr Jones recalled how he'd been appointed to the Welsh cabinet by a man he regarded as a father figure.

• Report from ITV Wales Correspondent Rob Osborne

"The most popular politician of his generation - and the master of the one-liner," is how Rhodri Morgan was described today by Alun Michael.

He often upstaged news presenters and didn't sit well with the slick political machine that was the Blair government.

• Report from ITV Wales Political Reporter Owain Phillips

Rhodri Morgan was first elected as an MP in 1987 and quickly became a rising star at Westminster.

He was a powerful advocate of devolution and became an Assembly Member when it was created in 1999.