Carwyn Jones will not attend Carl Sargeant funeral

Wales' First Minister Carwyn Jones will not attend the funeral of Carl Sargeant on Friday, he has confirmed.

The ex-Labour minister was found dead days after being sacked by Mr Jones amid allegations about his conduct.

BBC Wales understands that UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will attend the Connah's Quay service.

Mr Jones said he respects the wishes of Mr Sargeant's family and hopes "they can celebrate Carl's life in peace and without distraction".

An inquest found the provisional cause of death was hanging.

The first minister has faced criticism over how he handled allegations against Mr Sargeant, who was suspended from Welsh Labour pending a party probe into allegations by women about his "personal conduct".

Mr Jones said he had "no alternative" but to sack the AM for Alyn and Deeside.

He has since ordered an independent inquiry into how he handled Mr Sargeant's sacking.

In a statement on Wednesday night Mr Jones said he and his wife Lisa "would have liked to attend the funeral on Friday to pay our respects to our friend".

"However, we of course respect the wishes of the family at this time, and would hope they can celebrate Carl's life in peace and without distraction," he said.

Meanwhile the secretary of Mr Sargeant's Constituency Labour Party, Shelly Streeter, told BBC One's Wales Live programme that the first minister has lost the confidence of grassroots members.

She said Mr Jones's position was "untenable" after Mr Sargeant's death.

Ms Streeter said: "He's been leader for a long time now, maybe it's time for him to move aside for somebody with a bit more empathy or somebody who might be more professionally inclined towards his work colleagues."

She and Flintshire council deputy leader Bernie Attridge are angry Mr Sargeant was sacked before an investigation was carried out and was not told details about the allegations.

Mr Attridge - a childhood friend of Mr Sargeant - said he was considering leaving the Labour Party over the way Mr Sargeant was treated.

He said: "I am a fully paid up member of the Labour Party - I'm deputy leader of Flintshire county council, I'm the portfolio member for housing which I'm passionate about - but I am seriously considering, is the Labour Party for me?"

"If he knew the way Carl has been treated, at the end of the day that wasn't the Labour party he joined."

The Welsh Government and Welsh Labour have been asked to comment on Ms Streeter and Mr Attridge's comments.

Wales Live, BBC One Wales, 22:30 GMT on Wednesday.