<image bobjuly14 Brighton and Hove mayor Coun Bob Carden leads today's two-minutes' silence at the seafront Peace Statue

Sussex came to a standstill today as people stopped to remember those killed and injured in the terror attacks on London.

Thousands gathered in town centres and in front of public monuments to observe a two-minute silence to show their solidarity for those caught in the explosions last Thursday .

While millions of people across Europe stopped to remember and Londoners poured on to the streets in a demonstration of grief, public events for people to unite in mourning were held across Sussex.

At the Peace Statue in Hove, Brighton and Hove mayor Councillor Bob Carden led mourners as they bowed their heads to observe the silence. Passers-by on the seafront also paused to join the crowd and police community support officers also turned up to pay their respects.

Councillor Carden said: "It's important to show our respect not only for the people who died but also for those who travel into London every day. This could happen in our city or any city."

Councillor Paul Elgood said: "We are here today to respectfully mark last week's tragic events in London. We were thinking of those who were involved in the incident and the relatives who lost their loved ones."

Anthea Ballam, 57, of Chester Terrace, Brighton, said: "I thought it was important to come here because this is a national tragedy that perhaps could have been averted if we had a different way of conducting ourselves. It's everybody's tragedy. My sister lives near Tavistock Square and she and her neighbours are all very distressed. It is all still going on around them. It is just so sad and seems relentless at the moment."

Neil Lewis, his partner Abigail Phelan and their five-month-old son Joe stopped to observe the silence as they walked past the Peace Statue. Airport worker Mr said: "We did not realise it was happening but we thought it was important to show our respect for the dead. Luckily we don't know anyone involved but it affected us, working at the airport with the heightened security."

Union Flags will remain at half mast on main Brighton and Hove City Council buildings for the rest of the week. Books of condolences for the bombing victims opened at Brighton Town Hall and Hove Town Hall yesterday and people will be able to sign them between 8.30am and 5pm on weekdays for the next couple of weeks or for as long as there is a demand.

East Sussex and West Sussex county councils invited employees to recognise the silence while thousands of pupils at schools in East Sussex were also expected to join the tribute.

In Uckfield, town council staff at the civic centre stopped work at noon.

In Eastbourne, mayor Graham Marsden joined council colleagues on the steps of the town hall in Grove Road to honour the dead and the maimed.

He said: "The horrific explosions in London last Thursday are an all too vivid reminder that global terrorism knows no bounds."

In Hastings, people gathered at Priory Meadow Shopping Centre to stand for two minutes in sombre reflection.

Worthing Borough Council also called on people to observe the silence. Mayor Nick John has sent a letter of condolence on behalf of the town to the Prime Minister.

The day of mourning was made more poignant after it was revealed that a University of Sussex graduate is among those missing following the explosions.

Fiona Stevenson, 29, who until recently was doing voluntary legal work in Belize, has not been seen since she left her London home for work on Thursday morning.

Her family are waiting to hear if she has been identified as one of the dead.

The university's vice-chancellor said staff and students were shocked and saddened by the news.

Professor Alasdair Smith, vice-chancellor of Sussex University, has sent a message of sympathy to Miss Stevenson's parents, Ivan and Emer, and her younger sister Andrea.

In a statement, the university said: "All those who knew Fiona, taught her and studied with her will be shocked and saddened by the news that she is missing following the attacks in London. Our vicechancellor has written to her family expressing the university's heartfelt sympathies and wishes.

"We are observing the national two-minute silence on campus. Fiona and all those affected by these terrible events will be very much in the thoughts of staff and students."

Fiona, who wanted to be a lawyer from the age of 14 and dreamt of working for the UN, graduated from Sussex in 1997 and kept in touch with friends in the county.

She left her home at the Barbican at 8.20am on the day of the bombings to go to work but never arrived. Her family, who live in Essex, have not heard from her since.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "Although they still live in hope that she is alive, as the days tick by they are having to face up to the likelihood that she was one of those who so tragically lost their lives."

A statement issued by the police said: "Since the age of 14 she had wanted to be a lawyer and had a long-term ambition to work for the UN so it was no surprise when she qualified in 2000 as a solicitor.

"She had recently put her legal skills to honourable use, working voluntarily for four months in Belize, and had only returned to England at the end of May.

"Work did not overshadow the funloving side of Fiona, who adored diving and whilst in Belize had completed two diving qualifications and a dive in the Blue Hole. She also competed in the 180-mile Ruta Maya four-day kayak race."