The judge presiding over the trial of Thomas Mair, who's been found guilty of the murder of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox, says her death was a "personal tragedy" but also a "crime with great public significance".

Image source, AP

Sentencing Mair at the Old Bailey to a whole-life tariff, Mr Justice Wilkie told Mair: "To her family, friends and colleagues Jo Cox was a wonderful mother, daughter, sister, partner, and companion, her generosity of spirit evident in the selfless concern she had for others even when facing a violent death. 

"Their loss, caused by your actions, is and will be, almost unbearable. But because she was a Member of Parliament, the reason you murdered her, your crime has an additional dimension which calls for particularly severe punishment."

Mr Wilkie added Mrs Cox's murder was "brutal, ruthless" and "committed with determination and persistence" by Mair.

Tom Airey
Reporter, BBC News Online

I'm in Birstall this afternoon speaking to local residents about the news that Thomas Mair has been found guilty of murdering Batley and Spen Labour MP Jo Cox.

Stephen Hughes (pictured), 59, from Birstall, tells me: "I was at work when we got a notification saying we couldn't go into Birstall.  

"It was the day England were playing Wales, but we couldn't get up to our local club to watch it so ended up going into Batley. 

"I was stood right here when David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn were at the Joseph Priestley statue. It was just a massive memorial for her.

"She will be remembered as a politician who put in a lot of hard work. Her heart and soul went into things, she also kept herself local despite having to go down to London."

The voice of murdered Batley and Spen Labour MP Jo Cox has been "strengthened by all this and not silenced", her husband Brendan Cox has told the BBC.

Image source, Reuters

His comments come after Thomas Mair, 53, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of Mrs Cox's murder.

"How she lived is more important than how she died, and what she stood for is more important than the hatred that drove this act," said Mr Cox.

"He said, I think, at the time, that he did what he did for Britain. But I think that Britain would be ashamed of him," Mr Cox added.

This is the moment Thomas Mair, who's been found guilty of the murder of Batley and Spen Labour MP Jo Cox, was arrested in Birstall on 16 June.

The 53-year-old shot and stabbed to death the mother-of-two in Birstall a week before the EU referendum vote.    

Mair did not enter a plea and chose not to give any evidence in his defence during his trial at the Old Bailey.

After Thomas Mair was found guilty of the murder of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox, Mrs Cox's family hugged and shook hands with prosecutor Richard Whittam QC and appeared tearful as they left court.

Thomas Mair shot Jo Cox three times using a sawn-off rifle, even taking the time to reload between shots, a jury at the Old Bailey heard during his trial for the murder of the Labour MP.

Image source, PA

Witnesses to the killing in June repeatedly told the Old Bailey trial that he calmly set upon the Labour politician with the gun and a military-style dagger, before walking off "without a care in the world". 

He used a German-made 22 calibre bolt-action rifle which had been chopped down to just 12in in length so it could be used with one hand. 

He also used a modern copy of a World War Two commando knife with a 7in blade to inflict 15 stab wounds.

Thomas Mair, 53, has been found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey of murdering Batley and Spen Labour MP Jo Cox.

During his trial, jurors were shown CCTV footage of Mair making his way along the road after leaving his home on the morning of Jo Cox's killing:

Image source, West Yorkshire Police/PA

Image source, West Yorkshire Police/PA

Image source, West Yorkshire Police/PA

Tom Airey
Reporter, BBC News Online

I'm in Birstall this afternoon, getting your reaction and response to the news that Thomas Mair has been found guilty of murdering Batley and Spen Labour MP Jo Cox in June.

Valerie Rookledge, who lives in the town, tells me: "It's such a quiet village, so it was a great shock, but it would have been shocking wherever it happened. 

"Jo Cox really was trying to gather the different communities together here, and she was being successful."

And Julie, who lives in Pudsey but works in Birstall, tells me: "There was a strange atmosphere here for a long time, it was really eerie.

"People felt uncomfortable walking around. After a while, you just hoped things would go back to normal - but it takes a while."

The shooting, stabbing and killing of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox by Thomas Mair was "nothing less than acts of terrorism", the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said.

Image source, AFP/PRU/Getty Images

In a statement, Sue Hemming, head of special crime and counter terrorism at the CPS, says: "Thomas Mair carried out the brutal murder of Jo Cox - a defenceless mother of two young children who served her constituents with passion, exuberance and vitality and was proud to represent a diverse community. 

"Several people courageously intervened to try and save Ms Cox, including 77-year-old Bernard Kenny who was stabbed by Mair and sustained serious injuries as a result.

"Mair has offered no explanation for his actions but the prosecution was able to demonstrate that, motivated by hate, his pre-meditated crimes were nothing less than acts of terrorism designed to advance his twisted ideology."

Thomas Mair, who's been found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey of the killing of Batley and Spen Labour MP Jo Cox in June, has been given a whole-life sentence.

Brendan Cox (pictured), the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox has told the Old Bailey he was not there for "retribution" and feels "nothing but pity for" Thomas Mair.

Mair, 53, has been found guilty of the the murder of the Batley and Spen Labour MP in June.  

"His only way of finding meaning was to attack a woman who represented all that was good about the country in an act of supreme cowardice," said Mr Cox.

Her murder was a political act, and an act of terrorism, driven by hatred that has instead led to an "outpouring of love", Mr Cox added.

The Old Bailey's been told that Thomas Mair wanted to address the court but he was refused permission by the judge Mr Justice Wilkie.

Jo Cox's husband, Brendan, her parents, Jean and Gordon Leadbeater, and her sister, Kim, were all in court at the Old Bailey for the verdict which saw Thomas Mair, 53, being found guilty of the Batley and Spen MP's murder.

Mair, dressed in a dark suit and blue tie, remained impassive as the verdicts were read out.

He was being tried and found guilty on four charges:

• Murder
• Having a firearm with intent
• Causing grievous bodily harm with intent to 78-year-old Bernard Kenny
• Having an offensive weapon, namely a dagger

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has described Thomas Mair's actions in murdering Batley and Spen Labour MP Jo Cox as "robbing the world of an ambassador of kindness and compassion"

He added: "Her murder was an attack on democracy."

Speaking after the verdict, Mr Corbyn said: "Jo's values were lived out in her last moments, when she bravely put the safety of her staff before her own. 

"Jo is someone the Labour Party will forever be extremely proud of. The single biggest tribute we can pay to Jo and her life will be to confront those who wish to promote the hatred and division that led to her murder.

"Jo was a loving mother and wife. I hope that the verdict has delivered some sense of justice to those grieving, particularly Jo's family, who all of our thoughts are with at this time."

More on the news that Thomas Mair, 53,  has been found guilty of the murder of Batley and Spen Labour MP Jo Cox in June.

Image source, Julia Quenzler

Earlier, Judge Mr Justice Wilkie told the jury at the Old Bailey that the cause of death had been given by a forensic pathologist as multiple stab and gunshot wounds.

Evidence of gunshot injuries to both her hands indicated Mrs Cox had tried to protect her head, the judge added.

He summarised the prosecution's closing speech which said internet research on Jo Cox and sawn-off rifles pointed to him being minded to kill her, and an apparent confession on his arrest.

He said the defence barrister had reminded the jury of the burden of proof needed to convict Mair.

As the guilty verdicts against Mair were read out to the court, he showed no emotion.

He remained motionless in the dock and did not speak.

More on the news that the man accused of murdering Batley and Spen Labour MP Jo Cox has been found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey. 

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Thomas Mair, 53, was accused of shooting and stabbing the mother-of-two in Birstall on 16 June, a week before the EU referendum vote.

At his trial, Mr Mair denied murdering the mother-of-two and chose not to give any evidence in his defence.

Thomas Mair, accused of murdering Batley and Spen Labour MP Jo Cox, has been found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey. 

More to follow...

Abbie Dewhurst
Weather Presenter, BBC Look North

It'll Brightenibng up throughout the afternoon with some sunny spells possible.

Highs of about 7C (45F).

It will be dry overnight with clear spells, a risk of frost with isolated freezing fog patches, particularly in the north.

Southern areas may turn cloudier later in the night. Lows of about 3C (37F).

Felix, Huddersfield Railway Station's cat, will be on TV this afternoon.

Felix has been the resident pet at the station since 2011 when she was brought in to catch mice. She has now been given a high-vis vest and made Senior Pest Controller.

Felix will appear in My Pet and Me on the Cbeebies channel at 16:30 today.