Up to 200 mourners attended the funeral of a county councillor and parliamentary candidate who died on Christmas Eve.

A service was held for Gordon Helm, UKIP county councillor for Bocking, at the Three Counties Crematorium in High Garrett on Friday.

Phil Palij, of Braintree UKIP, said: “It was a great show of respect and support for a good man."

The service was conducted by the Reverend Sean Carter of Halstead Baptist Church at the request of Mr Helm, who died aged 75.

Essex County Council UKIP leader Jamie Huntman also read out a letter from party leader Nigel Farage .

Mr Palij said: “They were wonderful words and he obviously put a lot of thought into it.”