A FIRST World War diary written by old soldier Alfred Finnigan has come to light on the day of his funeral.

Mr Finnigan, who was 108, had never revealed he had kept a diary while on the Western Front.

But as his family and friends gathered in his room for a quiet celebration of his life after the service at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, his great-nephew Andrew suddenly noticed a black-covered exercise book on a shelf.

"We couldn't believe it," said Mr Finnigan's niece, Kathy Page. "It's all meticulously written in ink, with neat margins, and is a very factual account of his time in the war from January 30th, 1917.

"Alfred was always an avid writer, but how he kept this book through the war is a miracle."

Joining up before his 18th birthday, Mr Finnigan was to see all his friends killed in the conflict, which he always described as 'idiotic'.

One of them was a Fred Smith, and the diary poignantly records how Alfred and Fred had slept outside under the stars the night before he died.

"It was knowledge like this this which Alfred had to carry with him through his life," said Mrs Page. "This is why when he was older he used to sit quietly and say 'I have my memories'.

"It's unbelievable we didn't find the diary until after Alfred died. It is a real treasure, and we won't be letting it out of our sight."