THE funeral of former Pontypool and Torfaen MP, Leo Abse, will be held on Friday, August 29.

Mr Abse, 91, died peacefully at Charing Cross Hospital in London on Tuesday.

His funeral will take place at 11am at St Gabriels Church, Cwmbran, with the service conducted by Rev Michael Phillips and Rabbi Dr Sidney Brichto followed by cremation at Gwent crematorium.

Mr Abse was born in 1917 and was the son of Rudolf Abse, a Jewish solicitor and cinema owner who lived in Cardiff.

He attended Howard Gardens High School in Cardiff followed by the London School of Economics where he studied law.

He served in the RAF during the Second World War, before returning to Britain and qualifying as a solicitor.

In 1951 he founded Leo Abse and Cohen, which is now one of CardiffÕs biggest solicitor firms.

Mr Abse was a well-known politician serving as MP for Pontypool in 1958 and for Torfaen in 1983.

Having inspired nine Private Member's Acts he was noted as one of Britain's top social reformers including bills to legalise male homosexual relations and liberalise divorce laws.

Following his retirement in 1987 he wrote political books based on his interest in psychoanalyis.

Mr Abse leaves a wife Ania, who was 50 years his junior.