A VIGIL has been held in Newcastle city centre for the victims of the Paris terrorist attacks.

Hundreds of people gathered at Eldon Square this afternoon (Sunday, November 15) to pay their respects to the 129 who were massacred in the French capital.

Ten-year-old Manon Bureau, who is half French but lives in Newcastle, bowed her head and prayed for the victims as she stood next to the city's war memorial in the square.

She had painted the colours of the French flag onto her right cheek in a show of solidarity.

The memorial was still surrounded by poppies and those paying their respects placed candles and flowers among them to honour the innocent victims who were shot this weekend.

Around the statue strangers embraced and wept while holding placards which read: "Pray for Paris."

The vigil had been set to be held at Grey's Monument close by, but was moved because of the city's Christmas Market. To show their respect, market traders hung French flags from their stalls.

An onlooker said: "It was a moving spectacle, which lasted around an hour. It was as though the whole of Newcastle were united against the evil of the world."

Shops and businesses across the region showed their solidarity with France by flying the Tricolour.

Elsewhere in the region, Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Hartlepool and Teesside issued a statement about the attacks in Paris. It said: "The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community offers its deepest condolences to the people of France and government.

"The innocent victims of these barbaric attacks and their families are in our thoughts and prayers."