PEOPLE in Tendring fell silent in tribute to Weeley's Nick Alexander.

Residents across Europe stood in solidarity with those in Paris to remember the victims of Friday's devastating terror attacks.

Mr Alexander, 36, grew up in Weeley, where his parents Barry and Sheelagh still live.

A minutes silence was staged outside Clacton Town Hall today to remember all those who died or were injured in the terror attacks in Paris.

Tendring Council staff were joined by councillors and passers-by at 11am.

Fred Nicholls, chairman of the council, led the silence and said it was particularly poignant in Tendring as the first named British victim came from Weeley.

“As a council we would have wanted to pay tribute and remember all those innocent people who were struck down so tragically in Paris on Friday night,” he said.

“We have all followed the events over the weekend and our thoughts are with the families of all those who died, were injured or anyone affected by these cowardly attacks.

“However, it has since emerged that 36-year-old Nick Alexander was brought up in Weeley, his parents live there and he was a choirboy at St Andrews Church in the village.

“This somehow makes it even more real for us in Tendring when one of our own was struck down in the attacks.

“Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to all his family and friends at this very difficult time.”

The Union Flag at Clacton Town Hall and the council offices at Weeley are flying at half mast.

France observed a third day of national mourning and President Francois Hollande led the country in a minute's silence at noon, 11am in the UK, in memory of the 129 people who were killed in the massacres.

As Mr Hollande bowed his head at the Paris-Sorbonne University, crowds gathered in London's Trafalgar Square - where on Saturday hundreds joined a series of vigils to mourn those who died.

England's football team, who are playing France in a friendly at Wembley, tomorrow night, paused during training at their base in Enfield, north London, and flags at Wembley and the St George's Park training centre in Burton-on-Trent are at half-mast.

The silence was observed across the European Union.