FORMER Southend councillor, Alex Bright, queued for more than 13 hours through the night to pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth as she lay in state at Westminster Hall.

Mr Bright joined thousands of mourners who steadfastly wove their way across London in unprecedented scenes to say their final farewell to "remarkable and inspiring" Queen Elizabeth, who many are now calling Elizabeth the Great.

Posting on Twitter, Mr Bright said: "The Lying-In-State was so serenely peaceful and deeply moving.

"It was our final formal opportunity to pay our respects to Elizabeth the Great and will be a memory that I carry with me for the rest of my life."

Southend West MP Anna Firth also filed past Her Majesty's coffin as she paid homage to the late monarch.

Ms Firth said: "It was especially important for me to be able to pay respects on behalf of those people in Southend West who are unable to come to London themselves.

"May Her late Majesty be granted eternal peace, following her exemplary life of duty and service to the country she dearly loved, and who loved her back.

"Rest In Peace, Your Majesty. You will always be remembered as Elizabeth the Great."