Tony Benn's coffin carried into Westminster church by his son

Today, veteran Labour MP Tony Benn's coffin covered with roses was carried by his politician son Hilary and other loved-ones to his funeral, just yards from the House of Commons.

There were tears and cheers from politicians and supporters who pay their final respects to the Left-wing firebrand, who spent more than 50 years as an MP.

Overnight the former cabinet minister's body lay in rest in the Palace of Westminster's Chapel of St Mary Undercroft. He is only the second politician to be granted the honour after Baroness Thatcher in April 2013.

His funeral service is taking place in St Margaret's today, which is known as 'the parish church of the House of Commons', where Mr. Benn spent a career spanning more than 50 years.

The procession was led by the chaplain to the Commons Speaker, the Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin - who kept an overnight vigil beside the body - and was followed by family members.

Onlookers clapped as the coffin was carried from the hearse to the entrance to the church but silence fell as Big Ben chimed 11am.

Former foreign secretary Dame Margaret Beckett is among the onese who mourn him.

After standing down as MP in 2001, he became an influential campaigner against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Labour leader Ed Miliband described him as an 'iconic figure', while Prime Minister David Cameron said that Mr. Benn ensured there was 'never a dull moment', even for those who disagreed with every word he said.

He son told how much his father loved Parliament.

He added: 'His blood was never blue, it was the deepest red throughout his life'.

The funeral will be followed by a private family cremation later in the afternoon and a memorial meeting will be held later in the year.