For Durham County Council, the region's biggest local authority, it will be "business as usual" tomorrow but there will be a two-minute silence at 11.30am.

"We've got our books of condolence at County Hall and on the Internet, the flag is at half mast and the chairman and chief executive have written a letter of sympathy to The Queen.

"We feel we have done everything we need to," said a spokesman.

"We have asked members and councillors to avoid holding meetings during the funeral."

A maroon will be fired from the civic centre headquarters of Sunderland City Council at 11.30am, marking the start of a minute's silence.

Mayor Ken Murray said: "We wanted to provide our employees and the people of Sunderland whom they serve with the opportunity to join in a silent tribute to the Queen Mother who meant so much to so many of us."

People will also be able to place floral tributes on the North Terrace in front of the city's Museum and Winter Gardens.

Books of condolence can be signed at the city library and arts centre, Fawcett Street, at Washington Library and the area offices at Hetton-le-Hole and Houghton-le-Spring. Durham City Council will hold a two-minute silence at 11.30am and people can sign a book of condolence in the Town Hall.

Many national supermarket chains are closing their stores for the morning as a mark of respect.

Branches of Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda will be shut during the funeral.

The Greenwoods chain of menswear stores will be closed throughout the region today as a mark of respect to the Queen Mother. Its branches include Durham, Darlington, Bishop Auckland and Chester-le-Street.

The North-Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op's 140 shops will be open but will observe the two-minute silence.

Durham University and Durham Cathedral will both be holding a minute's silence at 11.30am and the cathedral's flag will be at half mast until after the funeral.

Prayers will be said for the Queen Mother in the course of services.

The Prince Bishops Shopping Centre in Durham will hold a two-minutes silence at 11.30am.

Next, Evans and Superdrug are among the stores planning to close for the morning or during the funeral.

The region's crown and county courts will not hold any hearings today although they will remain open for other court business such as making a claim.

Magistrates courts in County Durham will be closed although remand hearings for prisoners in custody will be held at Peterlee and Sedgefield. Defendants and solicitors have been told of the postponement of hearings.