More than 70 people gathered in Southall on Wednesday (June 22) for a vigil in memory of murdered MP Jo Cox.

On a warm evening outside Southall Town Hall, Labour MP Virendra Sharma led the vigil from 6pm on what would have been her 42nd birthday.

He was joined by leader of Labour Ealing Council, Julian Bell, as mourners queued to light candles and lay flowers underneath posters of the late Batley and Spen MP.

Other councillors, including Conservative Cllr Seema Kumar, who represents the Ealing Broadway ward, lit candles and paid their respects .

Retired supervisor Basharat Awan, who has lived in Southall for 56 years, attended the vigil and paid tribute to the late mum-of-two, who also leaves behind husband, Brendan.

The 56-year-old said: "We come here for Jo Cox, she was such a nice lady and a human being.

"What she was doing she was doing for the sake of humanity. I don't know why this person took her beautiful life.

"We are here today and we are praying that God can give comfort to her family".

The killing of Ms Cox led to other west London MPs revealing they had also had to deal with threatening behaviour by members of the public while carrying out their duties, and some made arrangements for increased security in their public surgeries in the following days.

'Important to show solidarity'

Ms Cox died after she was shot and stabbed in Birstall, West Yorkshire, on June 16.

Suspect Thomas Mair, 52, has been charged with grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.

He has been given a provisional trial date of November 14.

Just as at a Soho vigil following the LGBT+ nightclub shootings in Orlando earlier this month, there were calls for 'solidarity' and for people to stand together against violence.

Cllr Bell said at the vigil: "I think it's really important that we show our unity and solidarity, and actually speak out for the tolerance and the love that Jo Cox showed throughout her life.

"We are a very, very diverse borough - we are the third most diverse borough in the whole country and I'm proud that we're very comfortable with our diversity.

"That is one of the hallmarks of Ealing and Southalll and I think we can say that is our tribute to Jo Cox.

"I know I speak for all of the councillors and all elected representative that we were particularly shocked by her brutal death in broad daylight.

"All of us have advice surgeries. We seek to serve the public as Jo did and hold those advice surgeries and it was shocking in that circumstance that she could lose her life".

On Saturday (June 25) a candlelit vigil will also be held in Hounslow from 3pm at Bell Corner, at the western end of Hounslow High Street.

Well-wishers will be able to light candles, sign a book of condolence and donate to Jo Cox's Fund, which was set up in her memory to continue the late MP's good work.