Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said Lord Trimble’s contribution to the peace process was “immense”.

Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, Sir Tony said the Good Friday Agreement would not have been possible without him.

“It was a masterclass in leadership,” he said.

“He saw the chance of being able to settle the issue on terms that were acceptable to unionism.

Image source, PA Media

“He was never in any doubt that he was going to be accused of betrayal.

"He paid the political price for that.

“The great thing about David was, no matter how difficult he could be, he never complained about that”.

Sir Tony said Lord Trimble’s vision for Northern Ireland was of “a Northern Ireland healed and brought together in peace”.

“Once he said he would do something, he did it, that was absolutely invaluable to the trust needed to make the process work,” Sir Tony said

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader has remembered Lord Trimble as "a man of courage and vision."

Image source, Stephen Davison/Pacemaker

Doug Beattie made the comments in tribute to Lord Trimble, who led the party between 1995 and 2005.

"He chose to grasp the opportunity for peace when it presented itself and sought to end the decades of violence that blighted his beloved Northern Ireland," he said.

"He will forever be associated with the leadership he demonstrated in the negotiations that led up to the 1998 Belfast Agreement."

Image source, Pacemaker

Former US President Bill Clinton said he and his wife Hillary were "deeply saddened" by Lord Trimble's death, saying his "lifetime of service helped bring peace to Northern Ireland".

Mr Clinton said that during the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement Lord Trimble made the "hard choices over the politically expedient ones because he believed future generations deserved to grow up free from violence and hatred".

"His faith in the democratic process allowed him to stand up to strong opposition in his own community, persuade them of the merits of compromise, and share power with his former adversaries," he said.

"His legacy will endure in all who are living better lives because of him today."

Tributes have been paid from across the political spectrum to the former first minister of Northern Ireland and Ulster Unionist Party leader, Lord Trimble, following his death.

Lord Trimble, who died on Monday aged 77, led the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) between 1995 and 2005.

He was instrumental in the negotiation of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement - the peace deal which ended the worst of Northern Ireland's Troubles.

Lord Trimble won the Nobel Peace Prize, along with SDLP leader John Hume.

Since 2006, he sat in the House of Lords.

Read more here.

Good morning. Tributes are being paid from across the world following the death of former Northern Ireland first minister and Ulster Unionist leader Lord Trimble.

Please stay with us throughout the day for our coverage.