NORTHERN IRELAND Secretary Paul Murphy paid a moving tribute a the funeral of his friend Brian Smith yesterday, calling the former Torfaen council leader a "truly remarkable public servant".

More than 300 mourners packed St Gabriel's Church, Old Cwmbran, to pay their last respects to Mr Smith, who died on Sunday of at the age of 60 after a long battle against cancer and a brain tumour.

Former Fairwater councillor Mr Smith, who led Torfaen council for 20 years, stepped down at the local government elections.

Politicians, including First Minister Rhodri Morgan, Torfaen AM Lynne Neagle and former mayors of Torfaen, joined hundreds of council officers, friends and family for the full civic funeral.

Mr Smith's coffin, decked in red roses and draped in the Torfaen crest, was carried into church by six mourners including Torfaen MP Mr Murphy. Following Bible readings from Professor Brian Peeling and former Cardiff city council leader Russell Goodway, Mr Murphy paid a deeply personal tribute to Mr Smith.

The two men first met 40 years ago and were both elected as Labour councillors for Fairwater nine years later.

"I shall miss him terribly," said Mr Murphy, giving the eulogy for his close friend.

"I miss his companionship, his wit and, perhaps more than anything else, his laughter. He had a capacity to make people happier."

Mr Murphy talked of Mr Smith's deep Cwmbran roots and how he was already a well-liked figure in the area before becoming a councillor.

Mr Smith was also well-known through his jobs as a professional photographer, paper deliverer and union member.

"All those different jobs were a back-cloth to Brian's life," said Mr Murphy. "It was to politics he was drawn from his very early days.

"He was passionate about trying to improve the quality of life for working people.

"His life was dominated by service for his fellow human beings. He believed he was put on this Earth to love and help thy neighbour."

Mr Murphy also painted Mr Smith as a dedicated family man, devoted to his wife Jean, sons Paul and Jason and grandchildren Charlotte and James.

The hymns Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer and Lord of All Hopefulness were sung at the service, which was led by the Reverend Dennis Richards, before cremation at the Gwent Crematorium.