THE funeral of former Welsh Government minister Carl Sargeant will be a "celebration of (his) life, not a day for mourning", his family have said.

Mr Sargeant died earlier this month, just days after being sacked from the Welsh Government cabinet and suspended from the Labour Party after allegations of misconduct were made.

His funeral is due to be held at St Mark's Church in the ex-minister's home town of Connah's Quay, north Wales on Friday, December 1.

And, in a statement on behalf of the family Mr Sargeant's son Jack said: "We continue to be inundated with so many kind messages of support from across the UK.

"Messages that have not only given us strength over recent days, but messages that have left us in no doubt as to the extent dad was loved and respected by those who knew him."

He added he, along with his mother Bernie and sister Lucy, had decided the ceremony should be "a celebration of dad’s life, not a day for mourning".

"Everyone who knew dad will understand he wouldn’t want it any other way," he said.

"He was never one for pomp. He was never one for airs and graces.

"That was never his style.

"So, we ask that there be no formal suits nor black worn on this day of celebration.

"We want people to wear something that makes them feel happy and to come and remember dad as he was – kind, generous and the life and soul of the party."

An inquest into Mr Sargeant's death has been opened and adjourned. His provisional cause of death has been recorded as hanging.