SEVERAL cabinet members broke down in tears when they learned Sir David Amess had been stabbed to death, the Prime Minister has revealed.

The 69-year-old Southend West MP was killed a constituency surgery in Leigh on October 15.

Boris Johnson was in the middle of a cabinet away day in Bristol when he learned of the Sir David’s death.

"I think he inspired feelings of affection, love and admiration for the causes he espoused," Mr Johnson told BBC Essex.

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"Everybody was absolutely devastated," he added.

"We were all sitting around. I then got called out and got given the news.

"I had to go back in to tell cabinet colleagues, many of whom had known David for decades, and I'm afraid several colleagues broke down in tears because it was just an appalling piece of news.

"I think we were also very shaken by the implications of what had happened, and the fact his life had been tragically ended in the way that it was.

"I've spoken to members of his family and they've had a very tough time, as you can imagine."

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Summing up Sir David’s legacy, the PM said: "He was a valiant campaigner for a long time for leaving the European Union, and he was ultimately successful in that, and he has the permanent memorial of having transformed Southend into a city.

"His legacy really is that he will be a kind of exemplar of what a constituency MP can do.

"All our strength and our enjoyment of the job ultimately derives from that interaction with our constituents and our ability to pick up what's really happening and to try and help."

Mr Johnson said he firmly believed Sir David would not want anything to impede the close relationship MPs had with their constituents.

"The last thing David would want now would be for that vital free exchange between MPs and constituents to be interrupted or closed down as a result of the appalling circumstances of his [death]," he said.

Mourners will pay their respects at a funeral service and procession in Southend today, ahead of a service at Westminster Cathedral the following day.

Ian Gilbert, leader of Southend Council, said today would be an “incredibly emotional day”.

He said that Sir David’s family “understand there are many others in the city who knew and loved him”, and have agreed for the service to be broadcast on local radio station BBC Essex.