STONY-faced US Secret Service guards protect former President Jimmy Carter one last time as his six-day state funeral begins.

His personal bodyguards yesterday carried his flag-draped coffin through his hometown of Plains, Georgia, where he died on December 29 aged 100.

They then walked alongside the hearse as it made its way to the peanut farm Mr Carter grew up on.

The body of the Democrat, who was in the White House from 1977 to 1981, is due to lie in state today and tomorrow at his presidential library in Atlanta.

The remains will then be flown to Washington DC for another procession and lying in honour on Thursday, before a private family funeral in Plains.

Carter peacefully passed away surrounded by his family who paid an emotional tribute to the former leader.

His son Chip said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love.

“My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs.

“The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.”

“The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.”

He became the longest-living president and the first to make it 100 years old.