DEVIZES MP Claire Perry today spoke of her memories of Jo Cox as she travelled to London to take part in a service for the 41-year-old who was killed as she prepared to hold a constituency surgery.

Mrs Perry said: "I'm just heading up to Westminster to attend the Recall session and the service for Jo. We are all in shock at this awful act of hate. She was just great. Like the best of MPs she combined a cool head with a warm heart, speaking up for the local people she represented as well as those she felt she could help on the world stage.

"I had chatted with her in and around the 'Lady Members' rooms of the Westminster and most recently complimented her on having the best toned arms in the Chamber! We will all miss her but above all the empty space she leaves in her family does not bear thinking about."

As MPs look at their own security arrangements following the death of Jo Cox on Thursday in Birstall, West Yorkshire, Mrs Perry said that she had rarely felt unsafe but did read some letters and social media postings that were abusive.

She said: "We all have our fair share of people, often with with mental health issues, who cause trouble locally and while I have rarely felt unsafe, it is awful to read some of the letters I get, or see the online postings, not least because my wonderful staff suffer the abuse too.

"I follow all the recommended security procedures for surgeries and with correspondence and I have a policy of not engaging with those who just want to 'have a go'."

Mrs Perry was among MPs from all over the country who returned to Westminster today after Commons Speaker John Bercow agreed to the recall of the House to allow members to commemorate a colleague described as "perfect" by her family. The Lords are also returning.

Parliament had been in recess to allow MPs to concentrate on campaigning in the final days running up to the European Union referendum on Thursday.