The grey skies reflected the sombre mood.

People formed an emotional corridor of applause when Jo Cox’s funeral cortege passed by Batley Town Hall.

Crowds silently threw flowers onto the passing hearse, with many in tears.

Although the event was awash with sadness, people said they had come to celebrate Mrs Cox’s life and the positive impact that she had on the community.

“She had been a really big part of our school”, said 12-year-old Bilal Khan from Upper Batley High School.

“I worked with her at a food bank and she attended other events.

“She meant success to us and was very motivational – she said we could achieve whatever we wanted.

“Through her death everyone has come together even more and are spreading love around.”

Dozens of posters featuring Mrs Cox’s face were around the town, which included a quote from her that read “far more unites us than divides us.”

Tracy Brabin said: “I spent some time with her during her campaign against Batley Library closures. She was an extraordinary woman – razor sharp, massively humanitarian and set for great things.

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“It was such a shock – my mum was in the library at the time.

“It’s so sad that hatred can take away such a great person but she wouldn’t want it to divide the community.”

Another youngster, eight-year-old Waris Abbasi, wants to build upon her legacy.

“She talked about fair trade and after that I never bought anything that didn’t have the mark”, he said.

“I would like to make the world equal and help make people happy with their lives.”

People emphasised the hard job her parliamentary successor would have.

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“She was a wonderful MP”, said Peter Ward from Liversedge and Gomersal Labour Party branch.

“She could wear us out when canvassing.

“Jo will be very difficult to follow. She worked hard both in parliament and in our constituency and did all we asked of her.”

Clr Shabir Pandor for Batley West said her death proved the strength of democracy.

“It was very emotional”, he said. “It’s made people realise that democracy can’t be undermined. I think people have got more united and we must come together even more as a community and fight evil from whatever part of the world it comes from.”