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.

Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South East, said: "I think everybody is really upset about this. I started crying when I saw it on the news.

"I didn't know her very well, but I was particularly aware of her work on Syria. I know she had been urging the government to take more action there.

"She was a very nice lady and my thoughts go out to her children and her husband. It is really tragic.

"I have had people threaten to kill me on internet comments and so on, but you never think a thing like this would actually happen. It is just awful."

David Crausby, Labour MP For Bolton North East, added: "It is so sad for her family, and my thoughts are with them.

"It's absolutely awful that someone so young, who was out doing her duty as an MP, should be killed in such a terrible way."

Bolton West MP, Chris Green, said: "It's shocking. My thoughts go out to her friends and family, and the consitutents who she represented so well."