A close friend of Sir David Amess has paid tribute to him, saying “his faith was what drove him to want a better world.”

Mervyn Thomas, founder president of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has paid tribute to Sir David Amess, who was killed one year ago today, October 15th 2021.

The Tory MP was stabbed to death by terrorist Ali Harbi Ali, during his constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea.

This morning friends and family will gather at Chalkwell Park, Southend-on-Sea, Essex to plant a tree in memory of him.

A mass will also be held at St Helen’s in Westcliff-on-Sea at midday.

Mr Thomas described his warm personality and steadfast faith in God: “David was a remarkable character, he was a man who not everybody knew, but who his faith was actually essentially a part of who he was.

“He'd been involved in politics, from a very young age and that's when we first came across each other in the young conservatives.

“His faith was what drove him to want a better world.

“It felt that he could do that by being a politician and going into politics.

“He was also a man of incredible humility, he was as down to earth a person as I've ever met.”

Reflecting on the mourning that will take place today, Mr Thomas said he is praying for Mr Amess’s friends and family.

“The memories will never go away and we should be proud that they will remember the good things that David achieved.

“We just need to pray for his fans and friends and family that they'll remember that the great achievements of David Amess, but pray for them that God will be close to them.

“His family, have got faith to and pray that they will feel God's closeness to them and give them a peace at this time.”