An Asian man was one of those trying to assist MP Jo Cox a witness has said.

Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death in the street outside her constituency advice surgery yesterday.

One witness Hisham Ben-Abdallah, 56 said he came outside his coffee shop to see Mrs Cox being shot on the floor.

Speaking to the BBC this morning he said: “I was in the cafe yesterday talking to some customers.

"All of a sudden I could see a rive of people screaming and shouting.

"We got out "I saw a guy with a dirty white baseball cap.

"And an Asian guy trying to tackle him and try to stop him.

"I thought it was an argument with his man and his wife.

"When we went back and heard big roar and scream."

Witnesses said her assailant kicked and stabbed her and then shot her several times, the final shot aimed at her head.

The alleged gunman has been named locally as Tommy Mair, 52, who neighbours in Birstall have described as "a loner".

Yesterday the MP's husband Brendan said: "Today is the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. More difficult, more painful, less joyful, less full of love.

"I and Jo's friends and family are going to work every moment of our lives to love and nurture our kids and to fight against the hate that killed Jo.

"Jo believed in a better world and she fought for it every day of her life with an energy and a zest for life that would exhaust most people.

"She would have wanted two things above all else to happen now: one, that our precious children are bathed in love, and two, that we all unite to fight against the hatred that killed her.

"Hate doesn't have a creed, race or religion, it is poisonous.

"Jo would have no regrets about her life, she lived every day of it to the full."