As it happened: Southend says farewell to Sir David Amess

This was the moment that Sir David's hearse arrived outside Iveagh Hall, the Southend West Conservative Association constituency office in Leigh Road, Leigh-on-Sea.

Thousands of people took to the streets of Southend to remember Sir David Amess.

Here are some of the moments from today's memorial event.

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Sue Abrahams knew Sir David from their time campaigning together in Southend.

"Everybody knew him and he knew everybody; it was amazing," she said.

She said she wanted to come out today to pay her "final respects to him".

"Seeing the coffin was a very emotional moment. I couldn't fight back the tears, I'm afraid."

Police officers formed a guard of honour outside Southend Civic Centre ahead of the arrival of Sir David's casket.

Members of the public have lined the streets awaiting the arrival of Sir David's hearse at the Southend West Conservative Association building in Leigh Road.

Members of the public applaud the casket of Sir David Amess as it nears the Civic Centre.

One person outside the church sang along to the hymn Make Me A Channel of Your Peace.

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People have started to congregate at the Southend West Conservative Association, waiting to pay their respects.

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The horse-drawn hearse is now making its way at a walking pace down Victoria Avenue towards Southend's Civic Centre.

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The service has ended with “We’ll Meet Again“, a nod towards Sir David‘s support for a memorial to Dame Vera Lynn.

The congregation were asked by the family to consider contributing to the appeal to fund the statue.

Sir David's family have told of their pride in what he accomplished in his public life.

"We are so enormously proud of him," the family said in words read by Dame Ann Widdecombe. "Our hearts are shattered.

"However, there was still so much David wanted to do."

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Former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe delivered a speech on behalf of the Amess family.

She told how the family wished to thank everybody "for the wonderful tributes paid to David" after his "cruel and violent death".

"It truly has brought us so much comfort. The support shown by friends, constituents and the general public alike has been so overwhelming and as a family it has given us strength," she said.

"We have realised from tributes paid that there was far, far more to David than even we, those closest to him, knew."

In his eulogy, MP Mark Francois spoke about David Amess’s dedication as an MP.

The Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford said: “Our electorate employs us to represent them, not the other way round.

"Boy, did David Amess honour the contract with his employers.“

Mr Francois said that Sir David “had more front than Brighton“.

He said his friend never yielded on a point of principle to anybody.

“Whatever the weaknesses of Parliament, David was the embodiment of all its strengths," he said.

Outside the church are Theresa and Mark Williams. Sir David had been helping them with an access issue when he was killed.

"Everybody loved him," said Ms Williams.

"Politics aside, you didn't think about what party he was involved in because he was just such a lovely man, and he was here for anybody that wanted help and he would help them."

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Mark Francois, Conservative MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, is giving his eulogy.

"He was the original Essex cheeky chappy," said Mr Francois.

He told how Sir David, on being made a knight, went out and hired a suit of armour for the occasion.

Mr Francois also spoke of the "serious side" of Sir David, who loved literature and music.

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Rochford and Southend East James Duddridge has given a Bible reading from the The First Epistle of Peter.

The reading was followed by the second hymn, The King of Love My Shepherd Is, and a reading by Monsignor Kevin Hale from the Gospel of John.

A crowd is gathered across the road from St Mary's Church, straining to hear the service being broadcast over loudspeakers.

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After the welcome and the gathering of prayers by St Mary's via the Reverend Paul Mackay, the first hymn sung was For All The Saints.

The hymn will be followed by a reading from the Old Testament by Southend mayor Margaret Borton.

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The memorial service for Sir David Amess is now under way.

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Scores of public well-wishers have congregated outside St Mary's to hear the service relayed outside over loudspeakers.