You don’t have to go far to find a local in Leigh-on-Sea who knew the MP Sir David Amess.

His presence is felt by so many here, he helped and cared for everyone in his constituency. They are all shaken by the brutality of his death.

Flowers and messages of grief are growing at the police cordon, they paint a picture of a man who loved the community he served.

Del Thomas, 39, from Southend, works with a number of homeless charities of which Sir David had been a “big supporter”.

The MP would regularly ask them questions about their work, highlight their cause in parliament and encourage people to support the charity.

Mr Thomas said he was an incredibly “compassionate” man.

Sir David Amess death: Why tributes to Conservative MP killed in Leigh-on-Sea are so fulsome

Sir David Amess death: Priti Patel orders immediate police review of MPs’ security arrangements

David Amess tributes: MP was a ‘great common sense politician and formidable campaigner’

“David’s support really did mean a lot to us and made a big difference,” he said. “Homelessness is a big issue in Southend and he understood it.

“He was just compassionate, that’s one [way] I would describe him as, as someone who cared about his community. He didn’t show off or publicise that he came to see us, he came to see us because he wanted to.

“He always had a big smile on his face. He loved Southend. He was constantly bringing up how great Southend is in parliament. I’m still in shock to be honest.”

Angie’s garden backs on to the Belfairs Methodist Church, the scene of the killing. She says she can’t ignore the eeriness of her local area.

“It’s just horrific and so very sad. Everyone knew him in some way, we’ve all met him at some event or another,” she said.

“When I saw the pictures from the helicopter showing the scene, I thought it was a bad dream or a film but there it was, my local area and then such horrible news to hear what happened. I can’t believe it.”

Among the stories shared with Sky News about Sir David’s outreach work is one from Wayne Shuter.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Around 10 years ago, Wayne’s son Freddie, who was three years old at the time, had an operation on his hips which meant he couldn’t sit down or stand up.

Wayne said their housing operator refused to help when their property developed awful dampness which in turn was affecting Freddie’s recovery.

Wayne wrote to Sir David and says he was “instrumental” in getting them help.

“He wrote so many letters on our behalf to the housing association, and then prompted them to help us which ultimately got us rehomed,” he said.

“Everybody you speak to he’s helped in some sort of way, he always tried at least if there was nothing he could do he’d try every angle, every possibility.”

Wayne had been out shopping at the time of the constituency surgery, he had walked past the scene but had no idea of the horrors unfolding inside.

“I was outside the church at the time he was killed, but I had no idea what was going on inside,” he said.

“It was only when I got home and heard the news that I realised the timing and matched it up.

“It’s scary, very scary and awful to think about what happened and we don’t know if it was a targeted attack.”

Sir David’s reach stretches far beyond the South Coast.

Mohammad Imani, 68, from the National Council of Iran, travelled from London to lay flowers.

He had known Sir David for more than 20 years and says they met on many occasions.

“Everybody loved him,” he told Sky News.

He fondly remembers the 69-year-old’s sense of humour, that he was always “joking” and described him as a “great defender of human rights”.

This community’s sudden loss is raw.

From meeting many here and listening to their memories, the shock and sadness will have a lasting effect.

As the sun sets on Southend-on-Sea, the thoughts of many here will be with their much-respected MP – Sir David Amess.

Related posts:

Boris Johnson claims journalists are ‘always abusing people’ Labour reopens candidate selection process in race for Liverpool mayor Tory Brexiteers call on PM to scrap Northern Ireland Protocol – a year after they voted for it Cameron cleared of breaking lobbying rules over reported approach to chancellor ‘Not the time to gamble’: Sturgeon says there are questions over Salmond’s return Sturgeon in thinly-veiled attack on Salmond as she launches SNP campaign May tells PM to level with the public as she slams ‘incomprehensible’ travel restrictions Hospital waiting lists could reach 13 million in coming months, health secretary warns Foreign Office relaxes COVID travel advice for UK travellers to 51 countries Mandatory COVID jabs will be introduced for all NHS England full-time staff from April – Javid Met Police ‘considering’ cash for honours allegations made against Conservatives Sir Geoffrey Cox ‘does not believe he breached rules’ amid sleaze claims