Mourners gather with white roses as murdered Jo Cox's funeral cortege moves through Batley
Hundreds of people have packed the streets of Batley and Spen, West Yorkshire, for the funeral of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox.
The funeral of murdered MP Jo Cox is taking place today
The 41-year old married mother of two was shot and stabbed to death in a shocking attack in broad daylight outside her constituency surgery in Birstall last month.
Although the funeral service will be private, a cortege followed a route through Mrs Cox’s Batley and Spen constituency, slowing down at two key points to allow the public to pay their respects.
A memorial to Jo Cox MP
In a statement, Mrs Cox’s family said: “Knowing that so many people share both our grief and our determination to take forward Jo’s legacy is a source of great strength at what otherwise feels like a very bleak time.”
Local schoolchildren throw white roses as the cortege goes through Batley
we have decided that Jo's funeral will be a very small and private family affair
They added: “Now, particularly for the children, we have decided that Jo's funeral will be a very small and private family affair. Anybody from the local community who would like to pay their respects is welcome to gather along the areas outlined as we make this last journey. Following this we would ask everyone to respect our privacy to enable us to grieve and rebuild as a family.”
Labour councillor Gwen Lowe, who represents the Batley West ward on Kirklees Council said: "I knew Jo very, very well. It's extremely sad and it's all very surreal. Everybody is still devastated by it."
Ex-Coronation Street star Tracy Brabin, in Batley
The funeral cortege started off at around 10.30am, following a route along the A638 in Heckmondwike towards what West Yorkshire Police described as a “slow-down point” on Westgate and Market Street.
It then continued towards Batley where the funeral cortege slowed down on Market Place and Cambridge Street before leaving the town.
Former Emmerdale and Coronation Street actress Tracy Brabin, 55, was one of those who lined the streets around Market Place in Batley. "When she was campaigning to be elected I spent time with her campaign. We worked together to try to stop Batley library closing down," she said.
"I was so shocked when I found out it was someone that I knew and someone that I cared for. She's a true inspiration and was an extraordinary woman," added Ms Brabin.
She was joined at the kerbside by her mum Betty Brabin, who was inside Birstall Library at the time of Mrs Cox's murder.
She said: "We were told don't go outside there is someone on the loose, but we didn't know what had happened to Jo. It's unbelievable that something like that could happen in our village, but I guess something could happen anywhere."
Hundreds turn out to pay their respects as the funeral cortege passes through Batley
The murder of Jo Cox provoked a wave of shock around Britain and across the world, with a series of memorials taking place last month.
She had only been an MP for just over a year, having been elected for the Batley and Spen constituency where she grew up, in last year's general election.
Since Mrs Cox's death calls have grown for a pensioner who came to her aid to be officially honoured. Former miner Bernard Kenny, 78, was released from hospital after he was stabbed in the abdomen trying to save the MP outside Birstall library.
Murdered Labour MP Jo Cox
An inquest in Mrs Cox's death was opened and adjourned last month after hearing she died from multiple stab and gunshot wounds.
Thomas Mair, 52, has appeared at the Old Bailey in central London charged with murdering Mrs Cox. He is also charged with grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon. He is remanded in custody and due to go on trial in November.
Mrs Cox's widower, Brendan, has urged people not to “fight hate with hate”, in a tweet this morning responding to last night's terror attack in Nice.