Grace Millane's mother and brothers attend vigil in her home town

Hundreds gathered in Wickford, Essex, to remember Grace Millane (above). Photo / File

Grace Millane's mother and two brothers have joined hundreds of locals at a vigil for the murdered tourist in her home town in England.

Her mother Gillian and brothers Declan and Michael were among 200 people lighting candles outside the Fox and Hounds pub near Wickford, Essex, the BBC reports.

One woman attending the vigil said the 22-year-old's death in Auckland had "ripped the community apart".

Others at the vigil said they were "heartbroken" for the Millane family but praised them for handling the situation "with dignity".

Shauna Cassidy, who went to school with Grace Millane, said she had always been "adventurous" and was "always smiling".

"It's really upsetting to think this can happen to someone you know," she told the BBC.

"All Grace was trying to do was live her life."

Tony Bennett, a family friend, added: "They're an amazing family, a very strong family. I'm sure they're going to get through this.

"It's lovely to see people come together and see how the New Zealanders have taken Grace into their hearts."

The English vigil came after vigils attended by thousands of New Zealanders in Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and Dunedin.

Earlier this week, the English vigil's organiser David Heeney told local newspaper the Basildon Echo: "To the people of the world, if you don't know, a light was taken from Essex and we, as Essex and Wickford, weep for a soul taken away."

The local Thurrock Council held two minutes of silence in respect for the Millane family.

The Thurrock Gazette reported that Grace was the grand-daughter of a former mayor of Thurrock, Martin Millane, who died in 2000.