Bono's father to be buried

The father of U2 frontman Bono will be laid to rest today, following a funeral service near his home in Dublin.

Bob Hewson, 75, a retired postal worker, died on Tuesday after losing his battle with cancer.

Bono and other members of the group will be among the mourners.

They were on the UK leg of their world tour when Mr Hewson was taken seriously ill. Refusing to cancel any of the gigs Bono flew back to Dublin after every concert to comfort him.

At Tuesday night's Earl's Court gig in London, Bono paid tribute to the man he said had been a support and an inspiration to him throughout his career.

Dedicating the song Kite to him, Bono told the thousands of fans: "I want to thank my old man, my father, for giving me this voice.

"He was a fine tenor and he always said if I had his voice who knows what might have happened. He had been ill for one week and has gone now. He's free of all that now."

Bono, real name Paul Hewson, had been very close to his father since his mother died of a brain haemorrhage when he was 14.

Last November he held a special party to celebrate his father's birthday, putting posters up around the city with the slogan: "Still rocking at 75".

Mr Hewson's funeral is taking place at the Church of the Assumption in Howth, Dublin, at 1pm. He is to buried at the Old Balgriffin Cemetery.