Performers pay tribute to Sir David Amess who got them to the Royal Albert Hall

Video report by ITV News Meridian's Tony Green

Disabled performers today paid their own tributes to Essex MP Sir David Amess, who was killed as he began a constituency surgery at Leigh on Sea on Friday.

Determined to showcase their talents, he took the Music Man Project, made up of singers, dancers and musicians, all the way from the village hall, to the Royal Albert Hall. 

And days before he died, he enthused about taking their show to Broadway.

The project started life in Southend and their president and champion was Sir David Amess.

David Stanley, the CEO and Founder of the Music Man project said: "People with learning disabilities can't necessarily change their own destiny and make differences to their lives, so we need people like Sir David Amess.

"He was uniquely able to open doors for us. To raise awareness so I think when we approached him and said please can you become our president, I think he was just genuinely proud."

Also linked with Southend Mencap is Showstoppers and Mods, with Sir David backing them both.

Andrew Watson, the Director of Showstoppers and MODS said: "He loved being with us. The joy of being with Southend Mencap brings everybody in the town, anybody that has seen any of the performances whether it is showstoppers, music man, the MODS, will know the sheer joy and he recognised that. He enjoyed it just as much as the rest of us."

Watch: Performers pay tribute to Sir David Amess

One member said: "I went to the Houses of Parliament of Culture because when I was there that's when I saw Sir David Amess. He was so happy and so cheery."

Sir David was a man who helped make people's dreams come true. All over the town, soon to be a city, people are trying to come to terms with his loss.