Symbolic and poignant tributes across North East for Queen

Parks and public spaces have been adorned with flowers and messages to Her Majesty as sporting events resumed, paying their respects with silences and an airing of the national anthem.

An area of Durham City was filled with floral tributes on Tuesday.

Pictures from the area show a range of flowers lined up at Millennium Place in the city centre. Among the tributes were also cards with messages from heartbroken residents and even a little Paddington Bear, also bearing a message.

Walking up to Durham Cathedral there were no tributes left outside, with a single message asking people to leave tributes at Millennium Place.

Read more: LISTED - The North East companies that could lose their Royal warrant after death of Queen

Floral tributes in Durham city centre (Image: The Northern Echo)

Durham Cathedral lit up purple (Image: The Northern Echo)

Durham isn't the only place in County Durham to be accepting tributes, with flowers being accepted across the region including Chester-le-Street, Bishop Auckland, Crook Civic Centre, Consett War Memorial and The Witham at Barnard Castle. Durham Constabulary confirmed that any flowers left would be removed and composted for use in parks across the County.

Middlesbrough entertained Cardiff City at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday night, an occasion which saw several thousands impeccably observe a minute silence. Flags outside the stadium were flown at half mast, while a special edition match programme paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.

Jockeys at Redcar Racecourse also paid their respects with a minute silence before the day's racing got underway. 

The Riverside Stadium fell silent on Tuesday night in tribute to Her Majesty (Image: The Northern Echo)

Peter Barron (Image: Peter Barron)

People in Sunderland have visited Mowbray Park in the city centre to lay flowers as a mark of respect.

One of the people who left flowers at the bandstand was four-year-old Jude Harrison, who came to pay respects with his grandmother, Pauline King.

Pauline, from Tunstall, said: "We had been to the Proclamation at Sunderland Minster as a family and felt we wanted to go and lay some flowers in the park. We’re witnessing a part of history and thought it was a good thing for Jude to be part of.

"We have talked to him about The Queen and how long she had been on the throne. He said it was very sad, but he was happy to come and lay some flowers for her.

"We’re really glad we did it because The Queen was an incredible lady who did a lot for the country and she will be a big miss."

Four-year-old Jude Harrison, who paid his respects in Sunderland (Image: Sunderland Council)

The Mayor of Sunderland, councillor Alison Smith, said: "During her 70-year reign Her Majesty The Queen touched the lives of so many people, young and old, and we have seen lots of people across Sunderland pay their own tributes to her.

"Many people in the city have fond memories of The Queen and want to pay their respects publicly, which they are invited to do through signing one of the books of condolence or laying flowers." 

The bandstand in Mowbray Park, Sunderland (Image: Sunderland Council)

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