A state funeral has been announced for former US President Gerald Ford, who died late on Tuesday aged 93.

The funeral services will begin today in California where he lived and the late president will then lie in state in Washington over the weekend.

Ford’s body will be interred in a tomb in Michigan on Wednesday.

President Bush led tributes to Mr Ford, the longest living US president, saying he helped restore confidence in his office after the Watergate scandal.

The main state funeral service for Ford will be in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington tomorrow evening.

His body will then lie in state there for two days before being transferred to a place just outside the Senate chamber.

A funeral service will be held at the National Cathedral before Mr Ford’s casket is taken to Grand Rapids, Michigan, to be interred at the Gerald Ford Museum.

The US flag is to be flown at half-mast outside the White House and other government and military buildings for the next 30 days. George Bush led tributes to the 38th president.