Nelson Mandela dead: State funeral to be held on Sunday 15 December as world mourns

Cameron expected to fly to South Africa early next week

South African mourners gather in front of the Cape Town City Hall where the late South African president Nelson Mandela made his first public address after being released in Cape Town, South Africa (EPA)

Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, will be laid to rest with a state funeral on Sunday 15 December.

President Jacob Zuma outlined a week of official events to mourn Mr Mandela - Sunday will be a national day of prayer and reflection.

"We call upon all our people to gather in halls, churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and in their homes for prayer services and meditation, reflecting on the life of Madiba and his contribution to our country and the world," President Zuma said.

On Tuesday there will be an official memorial service at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, where Mr Mandela made his last public appearance in 2010 for the closing ceremony of the football World Cup.

From December 11 to 13 Mr Mandela's body will lie in state at the Union Buildings in the capital Pretoria. He will be buried on Sunday 15 December in his ancestral home in Qunu.

Official mourning is set to last 10 days with Heads of state and dignitaries from around the world flying in to honour the leader widely seen as the architect of a peaceful transition to democracy after apartheid rule.

David Cameron is expected to fly to South Africa early next week to take part in the formal memorial service.

As details of his trip emerged, the Prime Minister on Friday continued to pay tribute to the former South African president by signing a book of condolence at the South African High Commission in central London.

"Your generosity, compassion & forgiveness have given us lessons to live by," he wrote.

There were queues outside the South African High Commission on Friday as people waited to sign the book.

The Speaker of the House John Bercow said that tributes will be paid to Mr Mandela in the Commons on Monday: "I certainly expect tributes to Nelson Mandela to be our principal occupation on Monday," he said.

A separate book of condolence will also be available in the House of Commons library for MPs, peers and staff to sign.

Thousands of South Africans have gathered outside Mr Mandela's home in Johannesburg and his former house in Soweto to mourn their former leader, who died on Thursday aged 95.