Shoppers stood in silence and scores of businesses and stores closed on Tuesday as a last mark of respect for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Kendal's usually-busy town centre was noticeably quieter and, although traffic continued to flow, as the town hall clock struck 11.30am - and the funeral service got under way in London - the few people on the streets stopped what they were doing to observe a two-minute silence.

Most of the high street shops shut for several hours, including WH Smiths, Boots, Dorothy Perkins, Burtons, Woolworths, Marks and Spencer, and Monsoon.

Supermarkets Asda, Booths and Morrisons all closed for the duration of the funeral.

Other town centre stores closed all morning including Next, Laura Ashley, Thorntons, and Greenwoods chose to close for the day.

Kendal's post office, library and other shops, cafes and banks remained open but observed the two-minute silence, with many staff congregating in doorways to mark the occasion.

In Kendal's Westmorland Shopping Centre, the funeral service at Westminster Abbey was broadcast over the centre's tannoy system.

Ron Westwood, who was working at the Cheese Larder, in the market hall, said it was a moving moment as the centre fell silent, and the sounds of the mass pipes could be heard.

"Most people stopped and stood to attention in respect," he said.

A handful of bouquets had been left at Kendal's war memorial on Market Place, with one message reading: "Goodbye and God Bless to a wonderful lady".

Two pensioners had come into Kendal to do their shopping without realising how many stores would be closed, and were heading home to catch the funeral on television.

One lady said Kendal was like a ghost town, but that it was appropriate the occasion was marked.

She had watched the ceremonial procession from St James's Palace to Westminster Hall on Friday, and added: "Only this country could do it this way."

"She was a very graceful lady, we will miss her," added her friend.

Another passenger waiting for her bus described the Queen Mother as "the last real royal".

Retired Dennis Goodhind, who was staying in the Lakes on holiday from Derbyshire, said: "It is very sad but she had a glorious life, anyone who gets to 100 can't grumble."

One of South Lakeland District Council's new parking attendants out on duty on Stricklandgate, Kendal, said: "To me it's a personal thing but I think the majority of our boys will be stopping for the two minutes silence."

Elsewhere, the courts at Kendal were closed for the day, and members of the Lake District National Park Authority observed a minute's silence before their meeting.

A WRVS meeting and certificate presentation due to take place at Stricklandgate House, Kendal, was cancelled in memory of its former president, and the Quaker Tapestry, in Kendal, postponed the official launch of the new Tapestry Tearooms, and the celebration of 350 years of Quakerism, until April 23.