POLITICIANS across Hampshire have reacted with shock and sadness after a Labour MP was shot dead in an attack in her constituency.

Jo Cox has died after the attack in her constituency earlier today.

Eyewitnesses reported that she was shot and stabbed in the attack in Birstall, West Yorkshire.

West Yorkshire Police has now confirmed that Mrs Cox has died of her wounds.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says country would be "in shock at the horrific murder" of MP Jo Cox, who was a "much loved colleague".

West Yorkshire Police said a 52-year-old man was arrested in connection with the attack, which happened near the town's library.

Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes was among those from Hampshire paying tribute.

She said: "Such horrific news about Jo Cox, she was a lovely person, always smiling, thoughts and prayers with her family at a dreadful time".

Fareham MP Suella Fernandes said she was "deeply saddened by Jo's death", adding "Praying for her family and children".

Hichem Ben Abdallah said: ''He was kicking her as she was lying on the floor.''

He said that after a bystander intervened, the attacker produced a gun, stepped back and shot her twice.

Mr Abdallah, 56, was in the cafe next door to the library when he heard screaming and went outside.

He told the Press Association: ''There was a guy who was being very brave and another guy with a white baseball cap who he was trying to control and the man in the baseball cap suddenly pulled a gun from his bag.

''He was fighting with her and wrestling with her and then the gun went off twice.''

He added: ''I came and saw her bleeding on the floor.''

Mr Abdallah said the weapon looked handmade and that the man who had been wrestling with the assailant continued to do so even after he saw the gun.

He said: ''The man stepped back with the gun and fired it and then he fired a second shot. As he was firing he was looking down at the ground.''

He was: ''He was kicking her and he was pulling her by her hair.''

He said a ''very courageous man'' tried to restrain him but ''he couldn't stop him because all of a sudden he pulled a gun. She was a standing still target for him when he shot her.''

The whole incident lasted about 15 to 20 minutes, Mr Abdallah said. He said another bystander told him Ms Cox had also been stabbed.

Another eyewitness, Clarke Rothwell, who runs a nearby cafe, told the BBC he believed the MP had been shot and stabbed multiple times.

He said: ''Three times she was shot, the initial time which then she dropped to the floor and two more times. The third time he got close proximity he shot her round the head area.''

He added: ''In the meantime he was stabbing her as well, he was stabbing her with his knife.''

Mr Rothwell said there was blood everywhere at the scene.

Asked if he thought Ms Cox had intervened in a dispute he said he understood the altercation was ''always between the guy carrying the gun and the lady that got shot''.

A police spokesman said officers were called at 12.53 today to Market Street, Birstall, ''where a woman in her 40s had suffered serious injuries and is in a critical condition''.

He added: ''A man in his late 40s to early 50s nearby also suffered slight injuries.

''Armed officers attended and a 52-year-old man was arrested in the area.'' 

Ms Cox was elected to the seat of Batley and Spen at the last general election in 2015.

She is a Remain supporter in the referendum and both official campaigns have suspended their operations as a mark of respect following the attack on her.

She is married with two children, graduated from Cambridge University in 1995 and has worked as an adviser for former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown's wife, Sarah, and Baroness Kinnock.

Ms Cox has been a vocal advocate for the victims of the Syrian civil war and abstained in last autumn's contentious vote on allowing British military action in Syria

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was ''utterly shocked by the news of the attack on Jo Cox. The thoughts of the whole Labour Party are with her and her family at this time.''

Images circulating on social media apparently showed the gunman being detained, his bag close to where two police officers were holding him.