TRIBUTES have been paid to an MP who was shot dead this afternoon in her West Yorkshire constituency.

Jo Cox, Labour MP for Batley and Spen, was shot and stabbed in an attack in Birstall.

One eyewitness said the 41-year-old mother of two was left lying in a pool of blood on the pavement after her assailant shot her twice after first assaulting her outside her advice surgery.

Bury North MP, David Nuttall, said: "I am utterly shocked that a fellow MP has been murdered whilst serving her constituents.

"My thoughts and prayers are with her husband and her two young children and indeed her wider family and friends.

"I cannot imagine how they must be feeling. I did not Jo well as she had only been elected at the general election last year but I always said 'Hello' and she always gave me a cheery smile and greeting.

"She was clearly a very talented and confident MP and I thought she was destined to be in the shadow cabinet if that was what she wanted in due course."

Cllr Rishi Shori, leader of Bury Council, said: "I am deeply saddened by the death of Jo Cox the Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen.

"She wasn't just an MP. She was a mother, a daughter, a wife and a well respected public servant.

"She was killed doing her job, serving the people she was elected to represent.

"What is clear, from those who knew her from both sides of the political spectrum, is that she wasn't so much a star but a galaxy of talent and would have undoubtedly gone on to achieve great things in her parliamentary career.

"She had already made a tremendous difference both before her time in parliament, with organisations such as Oxfam, and during it.

"I will be writing in an official capacity to her family to express the borough's condolences and the Council Flag has been lowered as a mark of respect.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this difficult time."