THE funeral for stalwart Labour councillor Ron Jones who died earlier this week will take place next Thursday.

Newport council said his service will be held at St Michael's RC Church, Clarence Street, at 11.30am.

It will be followed by burial at St Woolos Cemetery.

A spokeswoman for the council said: "Our thoughts are with Cllr Jones’ family at this sad time."

Cllr Jones died last Tuesday, less than 24 hours after he had been judging floats at Pill Carnival.

Tributes flooded in for the stalwart council member - fellow Labour councillor Allan Morris said Mr Jones was "the epitome of an excellent ward councillor".

Council and Labour group leader Bob Bright had said Mr Jones's death was a "great loss which will be felt within the community, across the city and within the council."

Cllr Chris Evans, of Rogerstone ward, said Mr Jones had been his "friend and mentor", while Cllr Ibrahim Hayat said his fellow Pill representative was a "true gentleman".

Tributes also came in from councillors in the opposition Tory group, with Cllr David Fouweather saying he considered Ron Jones a friend despite their party political differences.

Tory group leader Cllr Matthew Evans said on Twitter that he was "shocked and saddened to hear about the sudden death of Ron Jones".

"He was always forthright in his opinions and put people before politics," he wrote.

Emma Corten, Labour councillor for Ringland, said: "He was a great man. He was all about the people, which is what a good councillor should be. He taught me much that I will always take with me."