HUNDREDS of people turned out to pay their respects to a parish councillor from Heybridge.

Natalie Lewis-Hoyle, 28, of Beeches Road, Heybridge, was a councillor for Heybridge Parish Council, and sadly died in December.

She had been a councillor for a year and was the daughter of Maldon District Councillor Miriam Lewis and deputy commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle.

A full inquest into her death will take place in March.

On Monday, Miss Lewis-Hoyle’s funeral was held at All Saint’s Church on Maldon High Street.

Chairman of Heybridge Parish Council Simon Burwood attended the funeral.

He said: “The service was beautiful, there was a really great turnout. We don’t know exactly how many, but it estimated between 150 and 200 people.

“Natalie’s father Lindsay and her sister gave lovely speeches along with Miriam, who handled the whole day extremely well.

“Many of us attended Heybridge cemetery afterwards before heading to the reception at Vaulty Manor.”