Sussex ground to a standstill as people marked the death of the Queen Mother with two minutes' silence.

Thousands stopped in their tracks at 11.30am and, with bowed heads, remembered a lady who had touched so many lives.

Many shops and businesses closed for most of the morning with others choosing simply to observe the nationwide silence.

Notices were placed on doors and windows explaining the reasons.

In Brighton, police cars sealed roads to the Clock Tower, with traffic in the city centre coming to a standstill as shoppers and workers observed the silence.

Keith Davey, an Australian gold miner on holiday in his native Brighton, stood to attention at the Clock Tower.

He said: "It was a very moving moment and a fitting tribute to a great lady."

Churchill Square Shopping Centre fell silent with the majority of stores closed for all or part of the morning.

Most shoppers were happy to pay tribute.

Janice Edwards, 69, from Eastbourne, said: "She was a wonderful woman and will be sadly missed."

Polar trekker Pom Oliver, from Billingshurst, took a moment's silence in memory of the Queen Mother during her record-breaking attempting to walk to the North Pole.

Pom, 50, and her two team-mates had already sent back a message of condolence when the death was announced.

In Lewes, representatives from across East Sussex joined for a service of remembrance at the town's war memorial.

The Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff of the county were joined by chairman of the county council Michael Tunwell and Mayor of Lewes John Webber, members of the Royal British Legion and scores of members of the public.

A hush fell over the centre of Worthing as people united in the silence. Cars, buses and shoppers all stopped in their tracks as the hands of the clock outside the Guildbourne Centre hit 11.30am.

People stood outside shops pensively and others sat on benches.

Hannah Davis, 18, of Orchard Avenue, Lancing, said: "The Queen Mother's funeral is part of history.

"It is one of those things which will be spoken about for a long time."

At Chichester Cathedral, special prayers were said during morning services and those in and around the cathedral at 11.30am observed silence.

Staff at nearby Chichester District Council offices stopped what they were doing.

In Mid Sussex, people stood still on the streets in tribute, while in shops, staff and customers watched the funeral procession on television.

Many shops in Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and East Grinstead closed for the morning.

In Eastbourne, most shops closed to allow staff time to watch the funeral service.

All 1,000 pupils at Cavendish School in Eldon Road broke from lessons to observe the silence, as did several other schools across the town and East Sussex.

As a young mother the Queen Mother and her husband brought the young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret to the town.

On meeting the former mayoress of Eastbourne, Winnifred Lee, at a garden party, she reportedly said: "Ah, Eastbourne, that's where the children first saw the sea."

In Horsham, shoppers and residents signed books of condolence which will be sent to Buckingham Palace.

Crawley MP Laura Moffatt paid tribute saying: "For many of my constituents this sad news represents the end of an era.

"The Queen Mother was held in high regard all over the world."