A HUSH fell over the streets of Okehampton on Tuesday as offices and shops stopped work and pedestrians stood in silent tribute to the Queen Mother.

The silent mark of respect was observed as her funeral service took place in London.

Televisions were lugged into offices and radios were left switched on as people followed the historic events of the morning unfolding hundreds of miles away in the capital.

Under glorious clear blue skies, the Union flag gently fluttered at half-mast above the tower of St James' Chapel, while the streets below remained virtually deserted.

At 11.30am, members of the town council stood with bowed heads outside the chapel for a two-minute silence, in tribute to the woman who lived through a century of remarkable change and captured the hearts of many.

In the quiet, the sombre notes of the funeral music relayed by television floated down from an upstairs window.

Cllr Christine Marsh, mayor of Okehampton, said: 'It's respect for a lovely lady.

'She did a lot for our country and the least we can do is show our respect.

'This is heritage and history really, when you look at it — I don't think anybody can touch us for pomp and ceremony. I think it's lovely really.'

Okehampton residents Gladys and William Frost joined the two-minute silence outside the chapel, before they signed the book of condolence at the town hall.

Mrs Frost said: 'She was a wonderful lady, she was our queen and I feel very sorry for her family.

'She was a very friendly lady, particularly for the children, and she always had a lovely smile on her face.'

Mr Frost said he had a lot of memories of the Queen Mother from the past and thought she would be missed by everyone, particularly older people.

'She was a lovely lady,' he said.

The majority of shops were closed in Okehampton for the duration of the funeral on Tuesday morning — Waitrose did not open until 2pm, while the Plume of Feathers remained shut until the evening.

In Hatherleigh, the market, although busy, observed the two-minute silence.

Judith James, of KVN Stockdale, said: 'We were in the middle of selling poultry — the only thing that made a noise was the birds.

'I think everybody appreciated the gesture — there were a lot of people around.'

Mayor of Hatherleigh Dennis Bater said a temporary flagpole was borrowed from the town's scout group and erected in the square, with the flag at half-mast. The flagpole on the church tower is broken at present.

Mr Bater said: 'I'm a very patriotic person and I would hope that this funeral will probably have raised the profile of the royal family again. I think they have performed very well throughout this.'

West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett attended the Queen Mother's funeral and described it as 'extremely moving'.

'It was done with great dignity. Although it was an occasion tinged with sadness it was effectively a celebration for a great life of service,' he said.

'The Queen Mother had served the country and was at the heart of some of the most difficult and traumatic events in the past century — and the people came to thank her and pay tribute to her life.'