BURY will come to a virtual standstill tomorrow (Saturday September 6) as thousands of local people join the nation in mourning Diana, Princess of Wales.

An appeal has gone out for the whole town to observe two minutes silence at 11am - the time of Diana's funeral - as a mark of respect for "The People's Princess".

Tonight (Friday September 5), there will be a candlelit vigil at Bury Cenotaph which this week has been laid with a carpet of floral tributes (pictured).

Shops and supermarkets will close for part of the day and many sporting events have been cancelled.

Throughout this week local people have been paying their respects. Around 1,500 had by yesterday (Thursday September 4) signed a Book of Condolence at the town hall and more than 200 floral gifts and messages have been left at the war memorial outside Bury Parish Church.

The Mayor of Bury, Councillor Roy Walker, is forwarding a letter of condolence on behalf of the people of the borough.

The focus of attention tomorrow morning will be on Bury Parish Church where an inter-denominational denominational service will be held (11am) to coincide with the funeral in Westminster Abbey.

The Mayor of Bury, Councillor Roy Walker, and Bury Council chief executive Mr Dennis Taylor will be among those attending.

A plea for people to respect the call for two minutes silence has been made by deputy council leader John Byrne.

His appeal came after a late change of my mind by council officials who agreed to close leisure centres and swimming pools until 2pm after earlier announcing that they would remain open all day because of the number of pre-booked events.

"This is a very sad occasion and we are conscious that members of our own staff, as well as the public, will want to share the day of national mourning."

Six weddings booked at Bury Register Office will go ahead and many others around the area are also expected to proceed.

People in Bury have been paying tribute to Diana all week, both publicly and in private.

Prayers have been offered up at Bury Parish Church since the news broke. A book of condolence has been opened there and candles lit. Rector of Bury, Canon J. R. Smith said: "People have been shattered by the news.

"I had great admiration for all she was doing and the way she threw herself into the work she was doing for the community."

Bury South MP Ivan Lewis paid tribute to Diana and said: "It is a tragedy that someone who was a force for good in the world has been killed in her prime."

Metrolink trams will halt at 11am for two minutes of silence which will also be observed in bus stations throughout the area.

Bury and Radcliffe markets will be open with stallholders making individual decisions on whether or not to trade. It is understood that stallholders will pay half rent if they close.

The Mill Gate shopping centre will be open as normal but some of its major stores will remain closed until after the funeral.

Marks and Spencer, WH Smith and Littlewoods will open at 2pm and trade until 6pm.

Boots pharmacy will open at 9am but other parts of the store will remain closed until 2pm.

Professional and amateur sporting events have been postponed or cancelled as a mark of respect. Bury boxer Ady Lewis will now defend his British flyweight title in Widnes next Thursday.

And Bury Football Club will play their postponed Division One home fixture against Tranmere Rovers on Sunday, 3pm.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.