Hundreds pay respects to Dewar

Hundreds gathered in Glasgow this afternoon for the funeral of Donald Dewar, Scotland's First Minister who died last week of a brain haemorrhage aged 63.

Hundreds gathered in Glasgow this afternoon for the funeral of Donald Dewar, Scotland's First Minister who died last week of a brain haemorrhage aged 63.

MPs and MSPs of all parties paid tribute along with sporting and showbusiness personalities. Mr Dewar's former wife Alison attended with her husband the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine.

Glasgow Cathedral was full to its 1,300 capacity. Hundreds more gathered outisde and at the nearby Barony Hall and Knightswood Community Centre, where the service was relayed.

Chancellor Gordon Brown was delivering the funeral service's main eulogy, while Tony Blair read a passage from the Old Testament.

As well as members of the Scottish Cabinet, other political mourners included: the Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern; William Hague; Charles Kennedy; the Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Mandelson; the Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook; former Labour Leader Neil Kinnock and former Labour Deputy Leader Roy Hattersley.

Baroness Smith, the widow of former Labour Leader John Smith, attended with her daughters.

The service was being followed by a private family ceremony at Clydebank crematorium.