The House of Commons has met in "heartbreaking sadness" and "heartfelt solidarity" to pay tribute to Jo Cox, Speaker John Bercow said as several MPs broke down in tears.

Mr Bercow said the killing of the Labour MP - "in this manner, of this person, our democratically elected colleague" - was "particularly shocking and repugnant".

A single white rose was placed in Mrs Cox's usual place on the Labour benches while MPs of all sides wore the flower as a mark of respect.

Several of her Labour colleagues, including Heidi Alexander, Stephen Kinnock and Carolyn Harris, were in tears before Mr Bercow began the tributes.

Jeremy Corbyn, Labour party leader, said: "Last Thursday, Jo Cox was doing what all of us do - representing and serving the people who elected her.

"We have lost one of our own and our society has lost one of our very best.

"She spent her life serving and campaigning for other people - whether as a worker for Oxfam or for the anti-slavery charity the Freedom Fund, as a political activist and as a feminist.

"The horrific act that took her from us was an attack on democracy, and our whole country has been shocked and saddened by it.

"But in the days since, the country has also learnt something of the extraordinary humanity and compassion which drove her political activism and beliefs."

Tim Farron, MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale and leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "Her legacy is one of building bridges and not walls."