Lib Dem peer Lord Jones of Cheltenham dies aged 74

Nigel Jones, pictured in 2010, survived a sword attack in 2000

Liberal Democrat peer and former MP Nigel Jones has died at the age of 74.

He entered the House of Commons in 1992, taking the Cheltenham seat from the Conservatives. He was elevated to the House of Lords in 2005.

Lord Jones survived a sword attack by a mentally ill constituent Robert Ashman in 2000.

The attack claimed the life of Andrew Pennington - a Liberal Democrat councillor - who had been in his constituency offices at the time.

During the subsequent court case, Lord Jones described how Mr Pennington had tried to get Ashman off him.

He told Bristol Crown Court: "Pennington was alive but he chose to stay to try to get the defendant off me.

"It was the bravest act I have ever experienced and he saved my life."

Lord Jones told of how the tendons of his hand had been "filleted" as he tried to seize the Samurai-style sword from Ashman, requiring 57 stitches.

Before entering politics, Lord Jones spent twenty-five years in the IT industry, spending time working in the Middle East, Scandinavia, Hong Kong and Jamaica.

The attack claimed the life of aide Andrew Pennington

During his parliamentary career, he served as the Liberal Democrat spokesman on housing and local government, and later as spokesman for science and technology.

He also served in the Select Committee on Standards and Privileges.

The body was set up by John Major in 1994 after a number of scandals rocked his government, that came to be known as the "sleaze-busters".

Lord Jones of Cheltenham passed away on 7 November during heart surgery. He is survived by his wife Katy, son Sam and twin daughters Lucy and Amy.

Fellow Liberal Democrat peer Don Foster, Baron Foster of Bath, paid tribute to Lord Jones, saying he "was always there, always good fun".

Lord Jones, shortly after the sword attack, was visited by former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy

Baron Foster told BBC West that Lord Jones was a really hard working constituency MP, I know he was very well loved.

"His majority used to go up election after election until he retired in 2005 and went into the House of Lords.

"But of course the shadow over everything was when that attack happened in 2000."

Baron Foster continued: "It's a great loss, he was just one year and one day younger than me, and he was loved by so many people."

He added that he had been in contact with Lord Jones via WhatsApp right up until he went into operating theatre.