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Queen's University's Emeritus Professor of Politics Rick Wilford has died.

Prof Wilford was a professor at the Belfast university's School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics and a prominent political analyst and commentator.

He has been remembered as a "legendary figure in NI academic and political circles".

Queen's University described Prof Wilford as an "outstanding teacher".

The university said he would be remembered "not only for his considerable academic achievements, but also for his warmth, kindness and generosity of spirit".

It said Prof Wilford's "astute and witty observations of Northern Ireland politics" would stay with his students long after they had left Queen's.

'Welsh sense of humour'

Ulster University Prof Deirdre Heenan said his "wisdom, insight and laughter" would be greatly missed.

"He was so generous, so kind, so supportive and actually very funny and insightful," said Prof Heenan, who was a regular commentator on �鶹Լ��'s The View programme with Prof Wilford.

She told �鶹Լ��'s Good Morning Ulster programme Prof Wilford "was someone who had great respect across the political spectrum".

"He had a great Welsh sense of humour, he could be curmudgeonly, but he was a wonderful colleague and actually legendary, not just in political circles," she said.

South Down MP Chris Hazzard said Prof Wilford was "always worth listening to" but was, more importantly, "a gent and always stopped to say hello".

Former students have also paid tribute.