'David Amess was my best friend': Essex town in grief

Residents choked back tears as they spilled on to the streets of Leigh-on Sea after the killing of their MP Sir David Amess.

He was "so kind to everyone" said Rofique Ali, a local Conservative Party member, who described the MP as his best friend in the world.

"I have known him for many years, and he was so kind to everyone," he said.

"I can't forget David."

Sir David, who was meeting people at his constituency surgery, had been an MP in Essex for almost 40 years, and theirs since 1997.

The 69-year-old was stabbed multiple times in Belfairs Methodist Church.

A man was arrested on suspicion of murder and a knife recovered from the scene.

News filtered through the neighbourhood that Sir David had been killed in their church and on their street. Reporters and people laying flowers have gathered on this normally quiet residential street of semi-detached houses, flats and tall trees.

A police cordon surrounds the church, police cars line the road. The mood is quiet and sombre.

Everybody is shocked that something so unexpected and devastating can happen here - and in a church.

But above all, they talk of an MP always willing to listen to them, to help them and to be part of their community.

That community has been left stunned by the events of the past few hours and people have come forward to pay tribute to his work as a local MP, at pains to emphasise that he was a kind man.

Resident Melanie Harris left flowers at the scene. She said they were "a small gesture to show we care".

She also left a card that read: "What has the world come to? What a senseless waste of a charming, witty and kind and gentle soul who deserved a lot more than to be snatched from life.

"You were always a pleasure to speak to. Thank you for restoring my faith in politicians."

Mohamad Imani, who is a member of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, a coalition of Iranian dissident groups which is calling for regime change in the country, said he was "shocked" by Sir David's death.

Mr Imani said the MP had been a "great friend" of the NCRI and a "hero for human rights".

He said he had met him several times in Parliament and travelled with him to conferences in Paris, France and Tirana, Albania.

"I have a lot of memories with him, always laughing and joking," he said. "He was a very kind man and a great human."

Stephen Aylen, who was a local councillor for 25 years, said: "He was very involved, a proper MP.

"For this to happen, what can I say?"

Alysha Codabaccus, 24, said: "This kind of thing just doesn't happen around here. This is a nice quiet area, it happened in a church, there's a school just up the road.

"It's something completely out of the blue, it's just really shocked us all and this should not have happened."

Kevin Buck, a Conservative Southend councillor, who worked with Sir David for 10 years, said he was "shocked and numb".

"I just can't believe he was with us here this morning, and not here now.

"He was a remarkable MP because he was a remarkable man - kind, compassionate and caring."

Parish Priest Kevin Hale said the community was "absolutely shocked and appalled" and it was "hard to believe".

"Sir David was a neighbour of ours, a good friend of the parish, a frequent visitor, a familiar face in the area and a great supporter of everything in the community," he said.

"We're all so utterly appalled. Our hearts and our prayers go out profoundly to his wife and children."

Ray Howard, a Conservative councillor in Canvey Island for 51 years, and who canvassed for Mr Amess, spoke of his deep upset.

"He didn't want to become a minister, he didn't want to go higher, he just wanted to be good constituency man, and what a good man and parliamentarian he has been."

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