THE region was last night continuing to mourn the death of the Queen Mother.

Councils across the region reported a lot of interest in the signing of books of condolence with some having collected hundreds of signatures since the beginning of the week.

A number of local authorities also announced arrangements for Tuesday, the day of the Queen Mother's funeral.

Darlington Borough Council said it was cancelling all its meetings on the day, as a mark of respect to the 101-year-old.

Sunderland City Council is planning a period of silence for council staff before the start of the funeral, at 11.30am in Westminster Abbey.

Flares will be fired from the top of the civic centre in the city, to mark the start of the silence.

Elsewhere, books of condolence are expected to remain in place at town halls and libraries for several days.

Mike Clark, a spokesman for Middlesbrough Council, said it had recorded more than 800 signatures in three books since they were opened.

Durham County Council said its website had brought condolences from as far afield as Rome.

Several mayors from councils across the North-East will be attending a remembrance service at 11am, at Newcastle's St Nicholas Cathedral.

Although in some instances it will be business as usual, the list of closures and cancellations on the day of the funeral continues to grow. Supermarket chain Asda will shut its stores on Tuesday between 10.30am and 1pm. Court houses and betting shops are also closing their doors.

National Trust houses will be closed during the day, but gardens and landscape parks will be open for quiet contemplation.

However, the chapel and grounds at the trust's property at Gibside, where the Queen Mother spent some of her childhood, will be offering free entrance on the day. The former stately home, near Rowlands Gill on the County Durham Tyne and Wear border, was created by the Bowes family, ancestors of the Queen Mother.

Gibside property manager Tony Walton said: "The Queen Mum means so many different things to different people and a lot of of people of a certain age have very warm feelings for her."

National Heritage properties will close in the morning, re-opening at 2pm after the funeral procession has passed through the Queen's Gate, on its way to Windsor