Hartlepool volunteer's tribute to murdered MP Jo Cox

Lesley Hornsby and her husband Stuart, of Fordyce Road, made several trips, taking piles of local donations to flood-hit communities in York and Elland Bridge, after storms last winter.

She met Mrs Cox, who was Labour MP for Batley and Spen, who was also helping out during Lesley’s second visit to the area.

Lesley said: “She was a lovely lady, she introduced herself when we went down there.

“She was helping out as well.

“I was devastated when I heard what had happened, I couldn’t believe it.”

Mrs Cox, 41, died after she was shot and stabbed in Birstall, West Yorkshire, yesterday.

A man has been arrested.

Lesley, a grandmother of four and mother of three, won the Volunteer of the Year title in this year’s Best of Hartlepool Awards.

It was after she completed four trips to Yorkshire and even headed a team of people who helped with the big clean-up of the city.